Think Like a Person Who Delegates

I recently asked my husband to get dinner prepped so that I could finish a work project. I gave him the instructions and he seemed to be a fast learner, insisting that he had everything under control.

(Something you should know about him is that he’s a doer by nature, not a “delegator”. So, it’s only natural for him to volunteer for a project or say yes to . . . everything.)

Noticing that he was struggling, I gave him an insightful tip on how not to turn chicken breasts into paper machete.

He looked at me square in the eye (all frazzled and sweaty) and comically replied, “Okay dear, but what you need to understand is that I’ll have to forget one of the other tips you asked me to remember if you want me to remember this one. You pick.”

We both had a good laugh so no harm, no ‘fowl’. Really, there was no fowl for dinner that night. Turns out I was too late and really is no good way to cook paper machete chicken.

And the Point Is?

If you’re constantly taking on things that you’re not skilled at, don’t enjoy or simply don’t have time for . . . you lose time, you lose money and, if you’re like my husband – you’ll lose your memory.

5 Basic Steps If You Want to Learn to Delegate

Whenever you delegate a task, you need to make it clear what level of authority you’re giving. Start with your comfort level and move up:

Level 1: Do exactly what I ask. Don’t deviate from my instructions.
Level 2: Research and report back. I’ll review the information, decide on the next steps and let you know how to proceed.
Level 3: Research the topic, outline the options, and make a recommendation. Give me what you believe to be the pros and cons of each option, then tell me what you think we should do. If I agree, I’ll ask you to move forward.
Level 4: Make a decision and then tell me what you did. I trust you to do the research, make the best decision, and then keep me in the loop.
Level 5: Make whatever decision you think is best. No need to report back. I trust you’ll do a great job and you have my full support.

Why Should You Trust Me?

I’m a hard-working business owner who has invested the same excitement, time, money and anxiety into my business as you have into your own. I’m not about to be the one to tarnish your reputation, just as I’m not about to allow mine to be tarnished over a job poorly done. I hate to be cliché but, if you don’t succeed, I don’t succeed.

What Can You Delegate to Me?

What I do depends on what you do for a living. For example, I might perform online research for one client, set-up and manage social media platforms for another, provide blog or WordPress website set-up and maintenance, chase outstanding invoices, or do a combination of things based on what they need and when they need it.

I’m very curious and love to learn. If there’s something you need that you don’t see here, chances are I can help. Contact me for a free one-hour consultation to see how you can delegate.