Could it be that our entire society is based on the concept of individual achievement and responsibility? This mindset leaves you feeling weak, embarrassed, or ashamed when admitting you need help. So, we don’t. We just keep slogging along, doing everything.
If you are struggling with asking for help in your business, keep reading.
Things you Say to Convince Yourself that you Don’t Need to Delegate:
- It’s my work, no one else can do it for me.
- How can I be sure someone won’t mess up or make a mistake?
- I don’t have time to teach someone how to do the task/job. It’s easier to do it myself.
You might be right about your reasons for not delegating. As stated, it’s not that easy. But the real question is: how much better would it be if you DID delegate?
How To Start Delegating
1) Make a List of Everything You Do in a Day
When you write down everything you do in a day, you’ll see all the tasks that are taking your time. When I first did this, a light bulb came on! No wonder I was so damn tired all the time! I was doing WAAAAY too much.
2) Classify Your Tasks by A, B and C.
A= You must do it because no one else can’t do it for you.
B= You don’t mind doing it, but someone else could do this if you train him/her, or teach them how to do it.
C= You don’t need to do it and you totally hate doing it.
Now that you are aware of what you are doing and who needs to do it, the next logical step is to classify which ones you’re going to delegate and which ones you’ll keep for yourself.
3) Delegate your B and C tasks
Let’s talk about the B and C tasks. These are the tasks or activities that can be done by someone else because they are not “A tasks”. You keep those. In this step, it is important to remember that delegation isn’t just ‘letting’ someone else do your work.
Before you hand off any task or activity, clearly define and document:
- What the task is.
- Why this task is important to your business.
- How the task should be done or performed.
- What successful completion of the task looks like.
- Due dates or deadlines for delivery of the completed task.
5) Evaluate, Communicate and Assign New Tasks
If you want to be an efficient leader and a good delegator, make sure to always evaluate what’s going on. Having your tasks documented will make it easier to ensure your assistant follows your instructions.
Keep in mind that it will take time for you to get used to letting someone do your work, especially if you’ve been doing it alone for a long time. Don’t expect mastery in minutes. It is essential that you provide ample time for someone new to learn, process, and ask questions.
Delegation is more than just saving the CEO’s time. It is the foundation for a long-term, sustainable business. Wanna chat about delegation? Check out our free delegation courses.
