Delegating for business might feel “lazy” to some business owners, or like an unnecessary cost. But as many business gurus have said, delegating for mental health is actually a way of working smarter, not harder. Plus, delegating the right tasks usually give a nice boost to your bottom line. Why?
As a business owner, entrusting others with the tasks they’re capable of handling will let you spend more time focusing on the higher priority responsibilities and income producing activities.
Benefits of Delegating for Business Owners
Handing off crucial responsiblitilies will keep you from becoming overly stressed and potentially burning out. Delegating lifts your burden, giving you more time to rest and create, which will lower your stress and boost your mental health. Here are a few benefits of delegating you may not have thought of before:
- Promotes a culture of trust, reducing turnover and keeping employees productive
- Improves mental health, giving you as the business owner more time to step away and reduce burnout
- Stimulates creativity, allowing you to keep your head pointed north in your business instead of down at your desk
- Allows you to make more money, giving you the flexilbity needed to focus on income driven tasks. Plus, the numbers don’t lie: business owners who delegate typically “earn more than 20% more than they would otherwise,” according to the Harvard Business Review.
Benefits of Delegating for your team
When you trust others to handle certain tasks by delegating, you create a support system – one that not only lightens your load, but also boosts the morale and confidence of your employees, which encourages initiative and a sense of collaboration.
Showing that you have faith in your team fosters a positive work environment where everyone feels more valued and empowered. Here are a few more benefits of delegating for your team:
- Creates a culture of trust, allowing your employees to feel important and valued
- Encourages team work and group thought, allowing employees to contribute to business growth
- Stimulates the want to learn and engage, giving employees the chance to improve their skills and potentially grow with your company
How to start delegating for business
Think about the areas in which you could hand off tasks. Whip out a pen and paper, and start jotting down any and all admin, routine, and tasks you just don’t like doing. These might include client communication, project management, marketing, administrative duties, client follow-ups, social media management, scheduling, email management, data entry, etc.
Make a comprehensive list of all your business responsibilities. Categorize and rank these tasks based on urgency and importance. Think about the tasks that need your brain, and the ones that don’t. You should obviously hold on to high-priority tasks which require your expertise and decision-making, but it’s okay to teach someone else to take on some of these tasks as well.
Trust the process
Delegating for business is not just about off-loading the mundane. For it to work, delegating is about building trust and promoting effective communication that leads to business growth. Show your team that you are confident in their abilities and trust them to handle new responsibilities. Then, give them the autonomy they need to succeed. You’ll likely notice that they become more engaged and efficient, and that their diverse perspectives and skills can lead to innovative solutions and improved outcomes. Some might require a level of micro-managing, but most will appreciate the space to succeed.
Communication is key
Once you’ve delegated your tasks, you’ll need to regularly communicate with the new handlers to ensure they have what they need to fulfill their new responsibilities. The best chance for success comes from the best training. People learn in different ways so keep that in mind during training. Many employees will need hands-on support and/or continued training, and that’s okay. It is your job to provide guidance throughout the process.
Holding on loosely, but not completely letting go, will ensure that tasks are done how you want without you having to do them yourself. You’ll strengthen your team while giving yourself newfound peace of mind.
Let go of perfectionism
There can be massive pressure to be flawless, especially if you have a service business. However, striving to be perfect is a main contributor to burnout. In order to have a successful business, you need to be consistent over the long term. What’s the alternative to perfectionism? Understanding that nothing and no one is perfect all the time. Mistakes will happen, and you know what? They can provide valuable opportunities to grow.
Once you get used to stepping back and not trying to control every detail, you’ll feel freer and less anxious, and you business will grow.
Managing a precious resource: time
With the time you save by delegating for business, you can focus on your business’s most important tasks and meet more of your personal commitments. Take that break to avoid burnout. Schedule weekly calls with your most important employees, chunk time for new opportunities you didn’t have time for before, and treat yourself more like a CEO than a soloprenuer.
When delegating responsibilities, be sure to be crystal clear about scope, goals, and desired outcomes so that everyone understands their role in accomplishing shared objectives. While you might have to make adjustments later, providing clear instructions and benchmarks at the outset of your delegation will minimize misunderstandings and maximize your chance of success. Again, be sure to regularly check in with your team so that you can offer guidance and feedback.
Possible challenges to Delegation
Delegating can feel uncomfortable at first. You might be concerned about work quality or fear that others will see you as less capable. To overcome this, delegate at a pace that will give you confidence in how the process is going. Moving out of your comfort zone gradually will make you more comfortable and will show you that what you gain by delegating far outweighs any anxiety you might initially feel.
Delegating your way to better mental health
Delegating can also improve your personal life. At home, handing off chores that others could easily do can reduce your stress and ultimately create a more harmonious home environment. Use the time you gain to do activities that bring you joy and relaxation and boost your mental health.
When you take care of your mental health by delegating, your business will be better for it, and so will you, your employees, and your loved ones. Start this transformative practice now and enjoy the happier, more fulfilled life you deserve!
While you’re developing your delegation plan, think about those content marketing communication tasks you can get off your desk. Watch Media Group services include social media management, blog and article writing, email marketing, and newsletters. If this sounds like something you can delegate, let’s talk!
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