Burnout, fatigue, overwhelm. These are all common side effects that any business owner can experience. The leading cause? Taking on too much and not knowing when and how to properly delegate. Look, you can’t be expected to do it all. That’s simply unrealistic and a tremendous amount of stress to put on yourself. The key to maintaining your sanity as the leader of your business is to delegate. Here are the top tips for delegating to stay ahead of the curve.
Know when to delegate
One common hurdle to delegation is knowing when to delegate. There are certain tasks you should clear off your plate and others that, understandably, only you can handle. Tedious tasks that require few skills can be easily delegated. Tasks that you can train someone to do with little effort can also be delegated. Also, try to identify tasks you are simply not that good at and find someone on your staff who can do them instead. Time-sensitive tasks are also a good hand-off. You cannot expect yourself to complete multiple tasks due within the same short time frame.
Let them know why
When you delegate tasks, those working for you may see this as unusual. Communication with your employees is very important. Let them know why you chose them specifically to complete the task. When you do this, you show them you trust them and are helping them develop professionally.
Be clear and specific
Make sure when delegating tasks you are clear on expectations and directions. Remember, these are tasks you have always done. It may be clear to you how to do them, but it may not be for someone else. By setting clear expectations and giving precise directions, you are setting your employees up for success.
Delegate and walk away
Don’t be a helicopter boss. After delegating tasks, step back and allow your employees to complete them. Allow them to figure out the best way to complete the tasks. Hovering over them will only frustrate them and make them think you don’t trust them. Remember, the entire purpose of delegating the tasks was to free up your time for something else. Don’t replace it with micromanaging them instead.
Provide honest feedback
Perhaps the most crucial part of the delegation process is feedback. Be honest with those who have completed the assigned tasks for you. This feedback is an opportunity to help coach your employees. Remember, the better they are, the better you are.
The bottom line
Delegating tasks isn’t always easy to do. It’s a skill that leaders need to learn to maximize their resources. Once you have mastered delegation, your life will become a whole lot easier!
