Many people operating their business know that at some point they will need to delegate in order to grow the company outside of just themselves. However, many don’t know where to start or they do delegate but don’t have success at doing it. Delegating, when not done properly, can hurt you instead of help you. Below are some ways that you can ensure that delegating does what it’s intended to do, and that is to help you grow your company.
Have a plan of action
Don’t go into it blindly by flying by the seat of your pants. When you get overwhelmed, the first thing that comes to mind is that you need help, and it’s quite common for business owners to immediately seek and get help without first knowing exactly what or where they need assistance. However, you first need to determine exactly what it is that you will delegate. So, create a list of things that you will hand off to the person that you choose to work with you.
Make a good match
When you’re looking for someone to work with you, keep in mind your workstyle. You will want to find someone who has a workstyle that will complement your own. For example, if you’re a person who isn’t great at details you should look for someone who is great at details. Of course, be sure to also take into account personality and skill set.
Find a proactive partner
You want to find an assistant who is a thinker and not just a doer. The goal of your assistant should be to make your work life easier and in order to do that he or she will need to work with you in a proactive manner. If you need to always tell your assistant exactly what needs to be done down to each detail, this can become trying on you and you may not realize things being any easier for you. Don’t expect your assistant to be a mind reader, but she should be able to think ahead on some things.
Achieve a balance in your delegating
Don’t delegate tasks or projects and forget about them. You should still check-in to ensure that things are going smoothly. In the same token don’t micromanage either. You want to give your assistant room to work, but you also don’t want to hover over her every move. So, find a happy balance between checking in and providing the space needed to achieve the desired outcome.
Delegating is not something that comes naturally; it is a learned trait. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right the first go around, but instead learn from your mistakes and educate yourself as much as you can to make sure that it works for you instead of hurts you.
