One way to reduce your workload and free-up time is to delegate many of your less important tasks. We all know that project delegation is important, yet we rarely do it. Our reluctance often comes from our way of thinking:
- I can do it faster than my team.
- I like to do those tasks.
- My team already has too much on their plate.
- No one can do it as well as me, so why bother.
Plus, the responsibility of those tasks ultimately falls on our shoulders, so it’s just easier to do them ourselves and not delegate. These may seem like logical reasons, but they are excuses that hold us back.
Training Yourself to Delegate
Many of us don’t have the time or inclination to assign priorities to our everyday tasks. But, once you do, you’ll see how much easier it is to organize your day and delegate less important tasks to your team.
We have compiled 5 ways to help you overcome any roadblocks that keep you from delegating tasks to free up more time.
1. Letting Go
Your dedication and commitment are second to none. This is why you’re successful and it might also be why you haven’t been able to delegate tasks. Remember that you’re not shirking your responsibilities, only passing on the work to your team. The outcome still falls on your shoulders. That’s why it’s important to trust your team to do a great job every time.
2. Establish a Relationship with Employees
Before assigning the work, there needs to be a level of trust and rapport between you and your employees. You will feel more confident in their abilities and be able to communicate better with them.
3. Know Their Skill Sets
To avoid delays and shoddy work, you should delegate tasks that fit your employees’ strengths. Annual reviews are a great way to discover what each of your employees is good at. These also give them room to talk about what they like about their job, which makes them motivated to do more of what they like. You’re simply accentuating the positive.
4. Use Tools for Better Collaboration
When you use collaboration tools, such as Google Docs, you’re providing your employees a way to see what is expected of them. This free tool can be updated from smartphones at any time and provides notifications to let you know the task was completed. Best of all, it’s a log that tells them exactly what they need to do and their deadline.
5. Schedule Regular Meetings
Now that you have more of your time freed-up, you’ll be able to hold regular meetings to discuss employee progress, areas of need, and new tasks. You can get their feedback on what they’ve been doing and if they have any questions about it. Regular communication maintains your relationship with them and lets them know that you value their efforts.
Teamwork!
It’s necessary for owners and managers to be able to delegate tasks properly, so they can concentrate on big picture strategies. Project delegation can strengthen your team through building new skills and increased communication. When everyone gets involved, your business will become stronger and more agile to the changing world of retail.