Small business owners wear many different hats. They often take on many roles within a company by necessity, but as you hire more people, you can reduce the number of tasks you need to take on yourself by delegating some of them to employees. This will free up some of your time so you can make the best use of it. Following are six tips for delegating tasks.
1. Determine the Right Tasks to Delegate
First, you must identify the best tasks to delegate. Ensure that the most important ones are being taken care of well, and remember that not everything should be delegated. Assess your workload and determine which responsibilities could be handled by someone else. Choose routine, time-consuming tasks that don't require your direct involvement. This may include things like social media management, customer inquiries, or administrative work.
2. Be Sure the Task's Importance is Understood
Make sure that employees receiving new task assignments understand the importance of what they're being asked to do. An employee will likely perform the task better if they believe it has value for the business. If the task appears trivial, it's possible they won't prioritize it or do it well. Explain why the task is important and let them know you're counting on them.
3. Delegate Big Tasks
You don't have to limit delegation to only small tasks. It's okay to think big when it makes sense. "When I first attempted to delegate more tasks to others on my team, I started by delegating the small stuff," says Nate Huskins at Inc.* "However, over time, I learned that was the wrong strategy because employees only focused on the small stuff and could not see the big picture. They did not feel connected with our company as a whole. That’s why we needed a different approach. I found I am better off with delegating bigger tasks because employees gain a greater understanding of how my business works and learn to appreciate the fact that even small tasks are important to keep it running efficiently."
4. Communicate Clearly
Communication is critical. Be clear about what exactly needs to be done. Avoid being vague. Be ready to add some training if needed, but let them know what is expected of them and give them clear goals. Make sure the employee is up to the task and encourage them to give you feedback as they go. Ensure they are comfortable with their duties and don't need help. Maintain a dialogue over time and let them know you're always happy to hear from them and answer any questions. Check in with them regularly.
5. Pay Attention to Skills, and Be Ready to Adjust
As you delegate tasks, you should pay attention to the skills of those on the receiving end of these new duties. Continue paying attention once assignments are given and be ready to adapt. "Even if someone seems like a good fit, they may struggle at first to learn their responsibilities and how best to complete them," says Jessica Fisher at Entrepreneur.** "If the company is smaller, their job may have a larger scope, with many small but cumulative elements that require time to master. When a team member seems ambitious and reliable but slower in the first few days, you need to offer more guidance and support. Thorough training of an individual with talent pays off. If they seem to still be struggling with specific tasks later on, it can be helpful to eliminate those from their job duties and have them focus on what they are good at. Hand those tasks to someone else on the team or hire another person who is comfortable doing them."
6. Trust Your Team
While it is important to keep an eye on things to an extent, avoid micromanaging and trust your team with their duties. Delegation is more effective when team members are able to take ownership over their responsibilities. Micromanaging will also eat into your time, which is counterintuitive. Checking in regularly will help you reasonably monitor progress but won't make them feel that you're constantly looking over their shoulders.
Delegation is one of many important skills a small business owner must master. You need time to plan and strategize, and important but mundane tasks can take up a lot of the time you could be spending on these things. Delegate responsibilities for the good of your entire team.
** https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/how-to-delegate-as-a-business-owner/471260
