Learning effective delegation can be one of the biggest challenges for small business owners who are used to doing everything themselves. It's hard to let go of control and trust that everything will work out the way you want it to when you're no longer hands-on and in the middle of every part of your business.
But even though it's a challenge, delegation is a necessary step for any small business owner who wants to grow his or her business. It takes work and consistent effort to delegate effectively, and a large part of the success is thinking like a delegator. Here are a few ways you can put yourself into a delegation mindset.
Think in Terms of the Big Picture
If you get caught up in the challenge of delegating each individual task, it will be a long battle to reach effective delegation. Consider the best possible outcome from delegating, and what effective delegation will enable you to accomplish in your business. Keep this in mind as you manage the day-to-day delegation challenges, and overcome each hurdle.
It can also be useful if you can tie your delegation goals into another goal in your business so you have a structured way to measure your progress and stay on track.
Embrace the Value of Others
It's difficult to delegate and accept the new work process of the team member taking over, especially when you've been doing the task in a certain way for a long time. Aim to remove yourself from the work process and focus on the end result. Is the finished product acceptable, even if the way it was achieved was different from what you would do yourself?
Once you open your mind to new ways to do things, you may also find that your processes are improved, fine-tuned and built upon in ways you weren't able to do yourself. Plus, new eyes on work mean new ideas, and that alone can be invaluable.
Arm Your Team with Information
Having documentation that clearly outlines the details of the work and provides all of the necessary information is important in delegation. But don't leave it at that. Once you have shared all of the necessary information, take time to review the specifics and answer any questions that may arise. When it comes to effective delegation, shared and consistent information is vital.
Be Around, but Not in the Middle
Effective delegation isn't instantaneous; it's a progression that relies on trust, collaboration and respect. When you first begin to delegate, you may want to follow along with the work being completed to ensure it's being done correctly and to help your team members overcome challenges.
As time goes on, however, avoid micromanaging the work that you delegate. While it's important to stay in the loop so you can monitor the work and provide feedback for improvements, your goal should be to remain available but invisible, unless you are needed.
Make it Ongoing
Your small business changes, so your delegation needs will also change. On a regular basis, review the responsibilities on your plate, where your time is going, what you wish you had time to tackle, and how your team is managing the work you have already delegated. By making this a regular evaluation process in your small business, you will be able to anticipate needs and be ready to add to your delegation process as soon as you see the changes taking place.
