Work ON your business and spend less time IN your business
If you have a prioritised list of problems that needs resolution and would like simple options to remove the overwhelm and give you time back, this article is for you!
We are going to be working through the ways to take care of your business problems, one step at a time. Let’s relieve your stress so you can work ON your business and not suffer working IN your business!!
Let’s do it!!
Overview
One thing I need you to believe, is that everyone that knows you and loves you, supports you! Your family and friends are cheering you on! I bet they’d love to spend more time with you and I am certain, you’d love more time with them. Let’s work towards this. I’ve got you covered!!
Although it feels like your business demands are a hot mess ONLY YOU can solve. I want you to know, this is not true! Let’s explore options to shift more off your plate and give you time back to do the things you love, without you worrying about your business! It might be easier than you think!
Firstly, let me tell you about how difficult I found it to delegate to others. I have always felt it was up to me to get things done. I’m not sure if you are the same, but gosh it can be hard.
Letting go of having to do things is like letting your children learn, make mistakes, and succeed on their own. When we let go of things we feel we need to do with our team or with an outsourcing company, we have to handover not just the task… but the responsibility!
I found this really hard! I had to trust, I had to let go, I had to believe that I was not the only person that could deliver! Whoa!! Truth!! But hard to swallow!
Not any more!
In giving responsibilities to others developed a mutual trust. I didn’t see that coming! The team pulled together so well and we delivered more than ever before!!
Trust is what’s needed for a team to succeed and scale. Without being able to delegate in full trust, your business will only reach its limits with you steering every wheel. This is not possible! This can only result in burn out! You cannot do everything. I’ve been there and done that, and learnt the hard lesson.
Delegating and Outsourcing are the way to go! Get everything off your plate and focus on only the things YOU need to focus on!!
Time to dive in to today’s quick win!
Let’s dive into the options available to have others deliver for you! Yes you heard me… getting others to do the work!! Yikes, I hear your ego now fighting for it’s life!! No one can do it as well as I can!! Sounds familiar!
It’s time to let go and have others share the load! Let’s get your business problem sorted quickly, and your time back… and your sanity!! But we won’t pretend this is a silver bullet, It isn’t! Nothing that creates sustainable change is an overnight success! Like anything worth doing, it is going to take conscious, consistent actions on your part to achieve the benefits and results! Your worth it!!
Regardless whether you’re a sole trader, a startup or an established business, you have the choice to delegate, outsource or do it yourself! There is always someone who can deliver for you. Here’s how you do it!
Step 1 – Determine Who Can Take Care of the Problems
I want you to review all of the problems you have on your plate or your post it note working wall! Hopefully you have been adding to this and getting them out of your mind daily! See 3 Simple Steps to Get your Business Problem Monkeys Off Your Back, Forever!
If you are using the post it note KANBAN approach, grab a colored marker and review each problem and ask this question:
If I was on a 6 week island cruise who would resolve this problem for me in a timely manner?
Think about:
– outsourcing to a small business who specialise
– delegate it to one of the team
– outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant
– getting an intern with the skills to take care of it
– asking a friend or a family member who knows what they are doing
Put their name on the post it note… and go to the next one! Rinse and Repeat till they are all done! While you do this you will have loads of internal dialogue about how you can do it better or quicker than others!! Oh my gosh, us over achievers are hilarious!!
I’m guessing you have some problems you might not be able to delegate or outsource!! That’s ok, and understandable. I want you to prioritise these for yourself and schedule them in your calendar! Remember no more than 3 AND only working on one at a time till done! See 3 Simple Steps to Get your Business Problem Monkeys Off Your Back, Forever! to understand why this is so important!
Step 2 – Delegate or Outsource
Now it’s time to hand over the problems to your chosen helper. This will be fun and scary at the same time. Put your delegators hat on and take the time to:
- explain the problem – in as much detail as possible,
- brainstorm the potential solutions,
- give them clear direction on the timeframe and decisions they can make without your input.
- Let them know exactly what they need to confirm with you… like costs or purchases, etc!! Be very clear on this scope!
- If you are outsourcing, ensure you agree on the quote and all instructions are in writing.
- And then hand it over and leave them to it!
The act of practicing quality delegation is to ensure you have good communication and clarity of task and responsibility. As you become practiced at this you will have more time to take you business to the next level!
Delegation, according to Simon Sinek, is a critical factor in scaling your business!
Fist bump Simon!! You rock!!
Will you stumble a little, sure. Will your team member, friend, or outsourcing company make mistakes, definitely. Everyone learns when they start delegating or outsourcing. In the long run, you will have those learning moments, create trust as a leader, and develop a team around you that is accountable and feel like trusted members of something special!!
When delegating or outsourcing, make sure you keep communication open. Check in when deadlines are close! Ask if they need anything from you to deliver! Thank them for the extra effort they are doing to get this job done! Be the leader you always wanted to be! Even treat your outsourcing companies this way! They are part of your team!!
If things go wrong, ask “what you could have done better to assist them?” Own it! Ask them if they need anything now to help them deliver. Let them know you are ok with what happened and check in if they are comfortable trying again! Be a servant leader, which means be of service to your team members! They will love this support!!
Once they deliver on task! Celebrate and ensure they feel appreciated! This lifts them and reminds your “must do it myself mind” that delegating is a great way to share the load! Winning!!
Be brave, delegate or outsource!!
At the end of the day, if you have to pay to get problems solved, you are buying time! And time is precious! Your well-being is even more precious!
Step 3 – Solve Remaining Problems Yourself
For everything left on your list of TODO’s, time to roll up your sleeves. I’m sure this is something you are used to.
If you are going to solve business issues yourself, include some of your team on the journey. Having others involved in the brainstorming, problem solving, solutioning, and implementation is a great way to build a champion team.
Take the time to understand the problems and where ever possible use data.
– OVER TO YOU –
Put this quick win in place and reap the benefits of having others supporting you. Try this with a genuine spirithy to give it a real go! Make it work! Find ways to make delegating and outsourcing work for you!
Watch the mind try to convince you that you need to do everything. Disregard this old story as it no longer serves you.
It’s time to work ON your business and less IN your business! YAY… time back!
To recap…
Step 1 – Review all problems on your list and decide who can take care of it for you. Either delegate or outsource! Don’t waste your time learning new skills!!
Step 2 – Communicate everything clearly, follow up with an email where possible, and keep communication open.
Step 3 – Resolve the remaining problems working on them one at a time, prioritising no more than 3 problems.
If you are an active learner, and enjoy sharing the journey with others, join our private facebook community. I will be there actively moderating, sharing additional information, and fostering a community that is safe, supportive and powerful. Think of this as your online mastermind group. Come be a part of it!
See you there!