Running a small business often means that you’re doing it all. Always on the go, juggling a million tasks at once - sometimes your days can feel like a never-ending to-do list! But you don’t have to do it alone. Delegating tasks initially feels scary but once you’ve mastered the craft, it can significantly lighten your load and help your business thrive.
But how do you choose which of your responsibilities to delegate? Creating a solid plan of action is the best way to ensure you get the most out of delegation and improve your workflow. Let’s take a look below.
Identify all your responsibilities
First things first, it’s important to assess your weekly tasks and identify which jobs you love as well as the ones you aren’t particularly keen on. Write them all down in a list, and noting how long each task takes.
Take time with this and try to be as detailed as possible – rather than just jotting down ‘social media’, split it into subcategories such as content creation, editing, scheduling, engagement and so on.
Look at your core strengths
Once you’ve got your list, split it up into four categories:
- Things you enjoy doing
- Things you don’t know how to do but would like to learn
- Things you hate doing
- Things you don’t know to do and don’t want to learn
Take a second to analyse your list – the things you love doing are usually your biggest strengths and are valuable to you. Everything in the last two categories should be considered for outsourcing.
Consider time-consuming tasks
Time is your most precious asset and as a business owner, you should be spending it wisely! A great tip is to add an extra category at the bottom of your list, for tasks that you simply don’t have time for.
For example, you may love creating reels for Instagram but don’t have enough hours in the day to write captions or schedule them. Or, perhaps you enjoy having calls with potential new clients but don’t have the time to go back and forth to arrange them.
Pinpoint the jobs that eat up your time and don’t necessarily have to be carried out by you alone; these are the prime candidates for delegation.
Decide what skills are needed
Business owners often wear many hats, and it’s very easy to get consumed and overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work that goes into running one. Consider your list above and decide what kind of skills are required to carry out the tasks you don’t want to do.
If you’re running a photography business, for example, the chances are you’re not going to enjoy the days when you’re knee-deep in admin or marketing. That’s when you know it’s time to delegate!
Look at your own skillset and decide whether you can carry out these tasks efficiently. Be honest about what you can realistically handle and what might be better suited for someone else. You don't have to be a jack-of-all-trades; instead, surround yourself with a talented team that complements your skills.
Focus on business growth and development
As a business owner, your primary goal is to boost revenue and continue to grow.
Unfortunately, there are many small, often tedious but essential jobs that are part of your daily work life. Tasks like these can quickly drain your energy and creativity, which makes them ideal for delegation because they can be systematised and executed efficiently by others.
Spending more time working on the revenue generating tasks that only you can do will ultimately benefit and enhance your business.
Don’t be afraid to outsource
Outsourcing is a great way of delegating tasks without the need of bringing on a full-time employee. Through the power of the internet, you can find skilled individuals who can provide you with the services you need at any given moment.
Virtual assistants like us, for example, can take time-consuming daily tasks off your hands, so that you can focus on your business needs. Many have special skills such as social media management, CRM set ups or blog writing, and usually charge by the hour, meaning you don’t have to worry about hiring a permanent team member.
The world of outsourcing can be intimidating at first, especially if you’ve been doing everything yourself until now. However, it’s important to trust your team and communicate your expectations clearly so that everyone is on the same page.
Remember, delegation is not a sign of weakness – if anything it’s proof that you can prioritise effectively in order to be an efficient and productive business owner. By choosing tasks to delegate wisely, you'll find yourself with more time, energy, and creativity to steer your small business toward success.
If you need any more advice about outsourcing and would like to learn more about what a virtual assistant can do for you, get in touch!
