I know you're in the thick of it, feeling like you're trying to drink from a firehose while juggling flaming torches. Your dream of running a seamless, thriving business feels miles away as you literally drown in an endless sea of tasks. The issue?  It’s that thing called delegation.  Everybody talks about how it’s essential but nobody talks about how to actually DO delegation effectively, efficiently and without pulling your hair out because, let’s be honest, your team gets it wrong Every. Single. Time… it’s just easier to do it yourself and get it done right so that you can move on to the next urgent thing that needs to get done. 

Let's talk about how NOT mastering this skill is the root of your stress, overwhelm, and the burnout you're feeling—and how making healthy delegation a priority, can help you to breathe new life into your business and, more importantly, you.

Why Aren’t You Delegating

Are you holding onto every single task because you believe no one can do it quite like you can. When you’ve tried in the past, the results were mediocre on the good end and downright disastrous on the other end?  This is the daily reality for many entrepreneurs who haven't learned how to delegate effectively. 

You’ve worked too hard to create the business that you’ve created and there’s a massive sense of responsibility to ourselves, our business and our clients to make sure that everything is running smoothly.  So the idea of delegating and losing control, is just too unbearable to even contemplate.

The result? Total overwhelm, waking up at 2am thinking about all of the things that need to get done, and a creeping sense of being trapped in your own business. It's a far cry from the freedom and world impact you envisioned when you started this business, isn’t it?

So then, how DO you do Delegation effectively?  How do you get your team up to speed without weeks upon weeks of training, SOP’s, Operations Manuals, etc?

It’s actually much easier than you think!

The Dos of Delegation: Your Ticket to Time Freedom

1. Start Small- Identify Something Simple to Let Go: Look at your to-do list with a critical eye. What is something simple that you could get off your plate, right now?  (I suggest starting with simple admin tasks.)  Even 5 minutes saved is an increase to your freedom.  

2. Choose the Right Team Members: Do you have the right people, in the right seats, doing the right things at the right time?  Think of your person you’re delegating to… what are their strengths and interests. Delegating the right task to the right person can turn a chore into an opportunity for them—and a time savings for you.

3. Clarify and Communicate with Tech: The fear of the task not being done 'right' stops many from delegating. Combat this by providing clear, concise instructions. It's about setting your team up for success and setting your mind at ease.  Use screen sharing tools like Loom.com to show the team member exactly what you want done.  Bonus points if you record yourself doing the task exactly as you want it done (Like a weekly blog post for example) and then passing the video off to a team member so that they can follow along with the video to do it exactly your way with the next blog.

4. Empower and Trust with Deliverables: Give your team the space to own their tasks. This doesn't just lighten your load; it builds their confidence and skills, making your business stronger.  Be clear on exactly what your deliverable is.  Oftentimes, there are multiple ways to complete a task.  If your team member delivers exactly what you want, do you care how they went about doing it?  Probably not.  By being crystal clear about exactly what you want the outcome to be, you are able to empower and trust that they’ll rise to your challenge.

5. Keep Accountability Clear with a Work Management System: Knowing who's doing what lifts the fog of confusion and ensures that tasks don't just disappear into the ether.  Using a work management system, I recommend Monday.com, will allow you to create a dashboard of all active workflows and tasks.  Ensuring that everyone is on the same page and that due dates/expectations are met with every single task.

The Don'ts of Delegation: The Pitfalls Keeping You Trapped

1. Micromanaging: This is the quicksand of the delegation world. The more you struggle against it, the deeper you sink. If you keep micromanaging, your team won’t take responsibility or ownership.  If working on a project, give yourself extra time.  Let the team member do the task to the best of their ability, let them fail.  Give them feedback.  Let them fix it.  Do this over and over until they get it how you want it.  This approach will teach them how to do it next time and will give you the confidence to delegate and let go in future.

2. Overburdening: Piling too much on one person's plate is just setting them—and by extension, your business—up for failure.  Many of us have that key team member that we give everything to because they do the best job.  Oftentimes this leads to burnout for that team member.  And what happens if that team member gets sick?  Take the time to work with all of your team members, train them, get them up to speed so that the workload for all is balanced.

3. Holding Too Tight: Fear of letting go can paralyze you, keeping you stuck in the weeds and away from the work that truly matters.  Setting up a work management system is crucial if you’re a control freak like me.  :)  My ability to see exactly what everyone is working on at any given time has been crucial for my sanity and my success!

4. Silencing Feedback: Your team's insights can be a goldmine. Ignoring them is like sailing past a treasure chest without stopping to look inside.  Your team oftentimes has insights that you may not have.  Listen.  You can choose to take their advice or not.  Being open to their ideas can be a gamechanger for you and your business.

Finding Your Way Out of the Storm

I see you, working tirelessly, feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. But it doesn't have to be this way. Effective delegation is your freedom, your way back to the shore. 

It's about more than just getting tasks off your plate; it's about reclaiming your time, your energy, and your passion for your business. 

It's about transforming your business from a source of stress into a source of pride and joy. 

So, take these tips, apply them, and watch as your business—and your life—starts to align more closely with that vision you had at the very beginning. 

Your dream of a balanced, thriving business and life is within reach. 

Let's grab it together.

Have questions about delegation?  

Shoot me an email at [email protected].