How often do you find yourself juggling too many tasks, feeling like there’s never enough time in the day and your to-do list just gets longer and
longer?
If you're running a small business or leading a team, you're not alone. It's one of the most common problems I see. You're trying to do everything yourself, being the jack of all trades but feeling overwhelmed.
However, there's a better way and that's to delegate or outsource some of your tasks.
Why Delegation Matters
Delegation isn’t
about dumping tasks you don’t want to do or getting rid of the jobs you don't like.
It’s about making sure your time and energy is focused on the important work that only you can do. a strategic way to ensure that your time is spent where it has the greatest impact.
When you delegate effectively, not only do you free up more of your time for important work, but you also help your team grow and develop new skills, take more responsibility, leaving you less to do.
Key Tips For Successful Delegation
- Choose the Right Tasks: Not every task can or should be delegated. Focus on routine, time-consuming, or skilled tasks that either aren't part of your role or responsibility or that others can do just as well or perhaps better and quicker than you.
- Find the Right
People: Assign tasks based on the skills, strengths and workload of your team members’. If there's a skills gap, find the right person who has the skills you need and is a good fit.
- Be Clear and Specific: Outline what you want done, the expected results, and any deadlines or timeframe. Think 'Who, What, When and How'. The clearer you are, the less time you’ll spend answering questions later. Avoid
being too prescriptive. You may have always done something in a certain way but that doesn't mean there's a better way.
- Support, Don't Micromanage: Be available for questions, but avoid hovering. Trust the person you delegate to deliver and give them space to approach the task in their own way.
- Review and Recognise: Check in
on progress at agreed points and offer constructive feedback. Recognise achievements and learn from any hiccups together.
- Automate: Routine tasks like scheduling appointments, reminders, follow-up or simple admin.
Getting Started
- Start small with one or two tasks and gradually build up as your confidence grows.
- Use a simple checklist to keep track of delegated tasks and follow up regularly. Schedule a weekly check-in or agree to follow-up at regular intervals.
- Encourage open communication so they feel comfortable asking for
clarification.
- Don't expect to get it right first time. Persevere.
Remember, letting go can be challenging, especially if you’ve been used to doing everything yourself. You're not losing control, you're gaining time.
It might be quicker to 'do it yourself' but once you've invested the time and successfully handed over a task, it's one less thing on your list.
Effective delegation is a skill that's worth learning, so stick with it. You're not just developing your skills, you're developing your team and your support network.
