The Power of Delegating: How to Effectively Delegate Tasks for Small Business Success

Running your own business can be challenging. While being actively involved is vital for the success of any venture and is necessary in the initial stages to cut costs, there reaches a point where effectively delegating tasks and projects becomes essential. Without it, your business may plateau, and you might find yourself grappling with overwhelming responsibilities.

In this blog post, I delve into the importance of delegation in small businesses and provide practical tips on how to delegate work efficiently.

Common Blockers to Delegating

Delegation is not about offloading work, micromanagement or having less communication with your team. Delegation is a strategic tool for optimising productivity, leveraging strengths, and fostering growth. Delegating tasks efficiently can significantly boost overall productivity, allowing businesses to thrive and grow.

However, running your own business means, at first, it can be tough to delegate especially when entrepreneurs and business owners have a strong vision for their company. Delegating tasks may make them feel like they are losing control or that the task won't be done to their standards. Business owners often operate under time constraints and may feel that it's faster to do things themselves rather than taking the time to delegate and explain tasks.

However, you can overcome these challenges by developing effective communication skills, building trust in your team, and recognising the benefits of delegation for the overall growth and efficiency of the business in the long term.

How Do You Decide Which Tasks to Delegate?

Deciding which tasks to delegate is a crucial skill for effective leadership and time management. But how do you decide which tasks or projects to delegate? Generally, business owners should be focused on long-term, high-value, strategic work. Below is a list that outlines some ways to determine if a task is suitable for delegation:

• Outside of your skill set. If you need to design an app or perhaps you want to start using Google ads and you have no idea how – delegate (incidentally I have written an article about whether you should hire someone to manage your google ads and you can read it here). For routine admin tasks I use Clairical a Virtual Assistant, this allows me to focus on client work and strategic areas of my business. Not only will you get a better result by hiring someone with the expertise and skill set but it will probably cost you less in the long run.
• Evaluate the complexity of each task. Routine, repetitive, or straightforward tasks are usually good candidates for delegation.
• Is the task something you should personally work on (because it’s high-impact or business-critical)

How to Delegate Effectively

Employ the right people - It sounds obvious, but it’s really important that you do your research and work with people who not only have the right skill set but are also aligned with your business. Seeking recommendations is an excellent starting point if you haven't identified potential candidates yet.

Define Your Needs - Clearly outline the tasks or projects you want to delegate. Detail is important at this point, and taking the time to communicate what you want to achieve clearly will save time in the long run.

Set Clear Expectations - Clearly communicate the objectives, expectations, and deadlines associated with delegated tasks. Providing detailed instructions and outlining the desired outcomes helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures that team members are on the same page.

Prepare Handover - When assigning tasks to others, ensure that the individual taking on the responsibility is well-prepared for success. Provide relevant context, documents, and detailed information about the task. Equipping the person with the essential tools needed to accomplish the job e.g software log-ins etc. And sharing any ongoing pertinent information about related tasks.

Clear Communication - Specify how you wish to communicate. Maybe you could set up a specific Slack channel. Does WhatsApp work better? Whatever method you use, it’s important to encourage open communication to address any challenges or concerns that may arise and to provide regular feedback.

Delegating tasks is an essential strategy for small businesses seeking to increase productivity and stimulate growth.  However, successful delegation has a number of key factors. Clear communication is paramount—articulating expectations, goals, and deadlines ensures that team members understand their roles and responsibilities. Equally important is the selection of the right individuals for each task, considering their skills, experience, and strengths. And finally, learning to embrace the art of releasing control and placing trust in the individuals you've delegated tasks and projects to.