One of the biggest hurdles my clients face in scaling their business is learning how to delegate.
It’s tough, isn’t it? You have the vision for your company. You know what you want. It’s hard to just hand things to someone else and expect they’ll apply the same excellence that you do.
If you’re like most passionate entrepreneurs I work with, your business is your baby. You’ve poured your heart and soul into it along with blood, sweat and tears.
But each small business owner comes to a point where there is just TOO MUCH on the to-do list.They simply don’t have the capacity to do everything effectively so that their business can get to the next level.
And so they must learn one of the most vital keys of running any business…delegation!
It’s not easy at first but trust me, learning to delegate effectively is not only going to make your life more enjoyable but it might just be the key to 10x the success of your business!
Here are 5 tips to get you started.
#1 Figure Out What Tasks You Dread
What do you NOT enjoy doing when it comes to your business? Writing emails? Taxes? Payroll? Website stuff? Whatever it is, make a list of the tasks that drain your energy because you don’t enjoy them. This is your list of tasks to start delegating!
#2 Delegate Strategically
Each of your employees or contractors have different things they are good at. You’ll be surprised to find that the very things you hate the most are someone else’s passion zone. Take some time to hone in on the different talents/strengths of your team and arrange delegation of tasks accordingly. If you are missing certain skills in your company, it might be time to expand and bring in some new people.
#3 Give Clear Expectations & Instructions
When delegating a task to someone, communicate clearly and simply as possible. Make sure you know exactly what you want them to do, how you want them to do it and when you want it done. It’s a good idea to give these instructions verbally and in writing so that no one forgets details.
#4 Acknowledge & Appreciate
When you’re done handing off a task to someone, finish by acknowledging them for taking over. A simple “Thank you for taking this on, I’m so glad I have you on my team.” will help them to feel important and create more motivation for them to do the task well. Once they complete the task, always show appreciation. Employees who feel appreciated are much more likely to show excellence in their future work than those who feel undervalued.
#5 Create A System For Reporting Effectively
Create a clear system for who reports to who. You may be the one everyone reports to but there should still be a clear way for doing so effectively. If you stay on top of emails, an email might be good enough. But if you are fairly busy you might want to set up a different system by using an online organization program for businesses. The goal here is to create accountability so that tasks are completed in a timely and effective manner, and none slip through the cracks. If you don’t have a good system, tasks will start to slide and your company’s efficiency and follow-thru will suffer.
Once you pass even a few simple tasks to the right person, you’ll be amazed at how much of a difference it makes.
You’ll have more time to focus on what you LOVE in your business.
You will be able to reach business goals and milestones more quickly.
You will be able to make it to your kids soccer games on the weekends without being on your phone the whole time.
New, awesome ideas will come from employees that you wouldn’t have thought of on your own.