As your business scales and the responsibilities multiply, you might catch yourself saying: “I really need to delegate more.” But almost instantly, the doubt creeps in – “Who could possibly understand my work, care as much as I do, and get it done right?”
As a result, nothing gets delegated and you are left doing everything yourself.
The problem isn’t a lack of capable and committed people. It’s that delegation doesn’t always come naturally. Handing things off can feel risky, even when you know it’s necessary. But staying in that mindset only keeps you stuck right where you are.
Here’s what I recommend instead on your way to becoming a delegation expert:
- Do your research. It’s important to know what skills are needed by the person you’re going to hire. Just like hiring an accountant to do your taxes, you’ll want to find someone with expertise. If you need to delegate setting up your newsletter, find someone with experience using email marketing programs like Mailchimp, Constant Contact or Mailerlite.
This may sound obvious, but often solo professionals look to hire ‘smart friends’, but soon discover they don’t have any relevant experience. You wouldn’t hire a ‘smart friend’ who knew nothing about cars to act as your auto mechanic – delegation of your business operations works the same way; specific skills are required. - Take time to plan. You’ve got to give the person doing the work enough time to schedule it into their calendar and get it done. This requires planning ahead. For example sending out an email newsletter requires time to write, edit and publish. It is important to ask if they have time for edits during the week and not just assume and send it over. You may also need to be prepared, for the answer to be “no” or “not this week.”
- Provide specific information. “Can you handle this?” is not enough information for the person you’re delegating to – even if it’s a simple and (in your mind) self-explanatory task. Include details, timelines and any supporting information. For example: “I’m ready to publish my next newsletter. Attached is the word document and the images I’d like to use. Can we schedule it for this Friday at 6:00 am?” Be thorough: include deadlines and guidelines about how you’d like the work to be done.
- Create check-in and control points. If you’ve delegated a project, schedule check-in points for milestones to make sure things stay on track. Sometimes there can be misunderstandings about the required tasks even when you both think you understand. Regular meetings will help with discovery and allow for adjustments.
- Develop a communicative relationship. When you work with someone you are in a relationship with them. I don’t mean you need to be BFFs, but simple things that work in your other relationships will work in this one too. A simple, “Thank you – great job,” or “How was your weekend?” will go a long way. Be sure to answer questions about the project quickly so that it can stay on track and on time. Your work together will require conversation – either written or verbal.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the person assisting you wants to meet your expectations and provide quality work. If that’s not happening, check these five points to see where adjustments may be needed and help you both get back on track. Delegation is a powerful way to leverage your time and get help with areas of your business where you might not have expertise. Done well, it can be a big win for you and your business.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
– Lao Tzu
