Delegating is an important part of any successful business model. It can be tempting to think that you can do everything yourself, but in reality this is rarely the case. Doing everything alone can cause stress and anxiety, which can cause burnout over time. Also, sometimes there is someone out there who can actually do the job better than you!
However it is important to make sure you don’t make a delegation faux pas. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when delegating.
1. Common Mistakes People Make When Delegating: Choosing The Wrong Person
When it comes to successful delegating, you should find the best person for the task. If you want someone to help with data entry, look for someone with admin experience, and if you are looking for a PA, try to find someone with secretarial experience. This means they will already understand the basics of the role, so they will need little training. In fact, they may even do the task better than you!
2. Forgetting To Clarify Authority
Once you have chosen the right person for the job, make sure to clarify authority. If you want the person to run important decisions by you, make sure to let them know – and if you’re happy for them to do the whole thing alone, let them know!
3. Delegating Too Much
Don’t start delegating once you are overwhelmed. If this happens, you may find yourself delegating important tasks to people with little experience, which could have a negative effect on your business. So delegate soon and delegate wisely, instead of waiting until you’re stressed and overworked.
4. Not Checking In
If you have delegated work that you think is simple, you may forget to check in – but it is useful to at least send the employee an email to ask how they are doing. This allows them to tell you if they are struggling or stressed, so you can lend a helping hand. It also ensures that projects aren’t late or poorly done, which is important for any growing business.
5. Expecting Perfection The First Time
If you are delegating a project to someone for the first time, try not to expect perfection. Remember that the employee may not have done a project like this before, so they may need guidance or advice sometimes. Over time it is likely that the employee will get better at the task, but to start with there may be minor issues that you have to resolve. This may be frustrating, but it is simply a part of the learning process.
6. Not Setting A Clear Vision And Outcome
Finally it is important to set a clear vision and outcome at the beginning of the project. This ensures that you and your employee are both on the same page, so you are less likely to encounter issues further down the line. So make sure to set a clear deadline, and be honest about the results you would like to get from the project (for instance, you may want to increase your social media following within a month).
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