Many small business owners find it hard to delegate tasks, not only because their business is a product of their blood, sweat, and tears but also because they’re used to wearing all the hats that are required to make it a success.
In most owners' journeys, there comes a time when tasks must be delegated to allow them to focus on strategic work—and, simply, to help the business run smoothly in their absence.
When you start delegating work, you can realize the same benefits—and many others.
| Delegation can reduce your daily stress levels. |
| It can boost your employees’ competencies and the value they can create for your business. |
| It's a great way to garner the trust, respect, and loyalty of your employees. |
| It can foster your employees’ engagement and desire to contribute to your business. |
| It can help you prepare for succession and determine who may be able to carry on your business after you retire (or when you plan to sell the business). |
How can you start this difficult-to-start task? Read on.
What should I delegate?
Almost every task can be delegated, but you may want to retain the work that requires your unique skills, experience, and competencies. Instead, ask for help on tasks that one or more of your employees is equipped to perform, even if they need some oversight to do so.
The best tasks to delegate are those that need to be performed regularly. Your employees can pick up these tasks quickly, gaining mastery through repetition. And by delegating these tasks, you can free up measurable amounts of time to work on higher-level tasks.
Tasks in this category may include:
- Running reports
- Ordering supplies
- Performing quality checks
Task complexity should also weigh into your decision of which tasks to delegate. Many leaders start by handing off relatively simple tasks, but you can also delegate tasks that can be mastered with some degree of training or oversight. These tasks may include:
- Evaluating new appointment-setting programs, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, or other applications that could eliminate headaches for your team and help them perform at their best
- Making shortlists of candidates to interview for a job opening
- Creating employee schedules
Of course, neither list isn’t all-inclusive. The key is to find and delegate tasks that will free up your bandwidth and allow your employees to contribute to your business in meaningful ways.
How can I set my employees—and myself—up for success?
Here are ten tips that can help you and your team succeed through delegation:
What's next?
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