Too busy? It’s time to delegate

If you want a job done right, do it yourself. This was the mantra I adopted for years. Unfortunately, this kind of thinking caps your productivity, your effectiveness and, ultimately, your dreams. It leads to a small-time, small-output and small-paycheck way of life. So, how do we break out of this mindset?

First, we must “want” to let go. We must desire to give away smaller tasks so we can take on larger ones. We must learn to delegate — but is delegation really all that great?

DELEGATION:

1. Allows you to grow into bigger roles.
2. Gives you time to think and plan.
3. Allows for higher revenue potential (the bigger the task, the higher the payoff).
4. Develops your team (as you grow your tasks, you’re bringing your team up with you).
5. Makes work more enjoyable with new challenges.
6. Gives you more time for the most important things in life (family, friends, etc.).

Even if you struggle with delegation, you likely see the value in handing off some tasks at work or home. If you’re like many of my clients, you constantly feel “too busy” and don’t make much progress on your big goals (assuming you’ve taken the time to set goals). So, where do we start?

THE FIRST STEP IS TO DECIDE HOW WE ARE SPENDING OUR TIME. FOR THIS, I’VE CREATED A SIMPLE TOOL CALLED THE ERA DELEGATION TOOL (SEE BELOW FOR A LINK TO DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE COPY).

1. Simply take a sheet of paper and list all the tasks you need to complete weekly. Take this page with you as you work to ensure you haven’t missed anything.
2. Your list may include cutting payroll, ordering a new printer or going to the grocery store. To the right of your list, create four columns.
3. Label the first column “Enjoyment.” Give each task a 1-10 number for how much you enjoy it.
4. Label the second column “Revenue.” Give each task a 1-10 number for how much revenue it produces.
5. Label the third column “Aptitude.” Give each task a 1-10 number based on how good you are at it.
6. In the fourth column, add the score for each task. If “cutting payroll” was a “2” for enjoyment, a “1” for revenue and an “8” for aptitude, the total score would be “11.”
7. Look down your list of tasks and select those tasks with the lowest score.

BUT WAIT! BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO START DELEGATING, ASK YOURSELF THREE QUESTIONS:

1. Does this task need to be done? Often, we do things because we’ve always done them. If the task isn’t producing the results you need, stop it.
2. Can this task be automated? If so, look for ways to automate this task (check out software platforms like Zapier or talk to your IT provider).
3. Finally, can we outsource it? If the answer is “yes,” this task is a prime candidate for delegation.

For more information and advice on how and what to delegate, download the free e-book at www.DoMoreBook.com