As a small business owner, knowing how to identify tasks to delegate is crucial for efficiency and growth. It is impossible for one person to do all the things it takes to run and grow a small business. You know you need help, you just aren’t quite sure how to do that. Deciding what to delegate can prove to be a daunting and overwhelming task. You may think it’s just easier to do it yourself, rather than “teach” someone else how to do it. Taking a little time to find the right person with the right skills for the tasks you need help with can really be a game changer in allowing your business grow and reducing your stress and overwhelm.
So what does that look like? How do you find that person to help you move your business forward? The first step is identifying what tasks you need or want to pass along to someone else. Outlined below are key factors to consider when deciding which tasks you can delegate. Keep in mind that you can always start small to build trust and confidence and add more tasks as you move forward.
Getting Started with Task Delegation
Task Assessment
Have your ever ended your workday a little unsure of where the time went? Maybe you feel like you didn’t get anything accomplished. A great place to start moving tasks off your to do list is to take a look at what you do daily. Ask yourself what keeps getting moved down your to-do list and what is not getting done. Review all your daily, weekly and monthly tasks. Categorize them based on urgency, complexity, your expertise in handling them and your desire to continue completing them. Write these down, either with pen and paper or your favorite digital planner.
Critical vs. Routine Tasks
Now take a deeper dive into those tasks. Determine which tasks require your specialized skills or decision making. These are tasks you may want to keep. You can then delegate the routine, time-consuming or repetitive tasks that are important for your business, but don’t necessarily need your unique expertise. It is likely you may find that the “I must do this myself list.” is much shorter than you might imagine.
Skill Set Analysis
When reviewing your task list, consider your skill set. Ask yourself if this task is something you want to spend time learning how to do. Consider if this task is something you enjoy doing. Delegate the tasks that fall outside your skill set or those tasks you find particularly unenjoyable or challenging. The truth is most of us start a small business to do the thing we love. Maybe that’s organizing someone’s pantry, maintaining beautifully landscaped lawns or helping people reach their health and wellness goals. It may not be writing blog posts, sending emails or tracking income and expenses.
Time Consuming Activities
Time is one of our most valuable commodities. It’s finite and the same for everyone. It’s important to remember your time is valuable. Identify tasks that consume a significant portion of your time but don’t necessarily require your direct involvement. Many client management, marketing, administrative and bookkeeping tasks can be easily delegated to and successfully completed by a strategic partner for your business. While you can’t add more hours in your day, you can free up your time which is kind of the same thing, right?
Impact and Value
Consider the impact and value of finally getting those tasks off your plate for you and your business. Having less to do truly can save you time and help you make money. Putting those big ideas and projects into motion can really move the needle in your business growth. Effective delegation removes the tasks that eat up your time from your to do list or never get done. This time can then be devoted to the areas of your business that you love. Let’s hear it for a boost in productivity and a big reduction in stress!
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