One of the hardest things for many business owners is learning how to delegate effectively. Many of us have a clear idea of what we want, and many business owners are capable people with a great deal of drive. Handing off activities to others feels wrong.
However, at some point you’ll end up with the need to outsource some of your tasks. In order to be successful as a business owner, you need to learn how to delegate. It’s impossible to do everything — and do it well — as your business expands.
Here are 4 steps that can help you learn how to delegate effectively:
1. Identify Mundane Tasks Anyone Can Do
The first step is to identify mundane tasks anyone can do. When I first started learning to outsource and delegate, I started with social media posting. I realized that my social media posts were sucking away quite a bit of my time, and that it was a routine task that someone else could do.
There are other tasks that you might be able to delegate to someone else, including content creation, public relations, or scheduling. Figure out which tasks are general enough that almost anyone could handle them, and start with those.
2. Delegate According to Team Members’ Strengths
Handing out mundane tasks is just the first step to learning how to delegate effectively. You also need to understand the strengths of your team members. Chances are, you built a team because the individual members have something to contribute. If you want them to grow — and to feel valued and challenged — you need to learn how to delegate to them.
Consider your team members’ strengths, and also consider what is realistic. You want to make sure that you are providing your team with opportunities to grow positively, and meet goals. They may have to stretch, but it will benefit everyone in the long run. As you delegate tasks that help your team members improve, it will help you develop more assets for your company.
3. Step Back and Let Your Team Work
You aren’t learning to delegate effectively if you micromanage your team’s every move. Realize that members of your team might work differently than you do. Understand that this is ok. You need to set expectations and let them know about tasks and deadlines, but then you need to step back and let your employees succeed.
When you are constantly micro-managing, you aren’t concentrating on other things that might be better for you to focus on. If you have chosen your team thoughtfully, you should trust them to get the job done.
4. Focus on Other Parts of Your Business
If you want to delegate effectively, you have to focus on other parts of your business. The whole point of getting others to share in the workload is that you are able to channel your energy into the most profitable aspects of your business.
Your time is valuable, and that’s why you need to use it where it will do the most good. When you learn how to delegate effectively, you free up more time for you, and that means you have the chance to channel your passion and drive into growing your business.
