Are you a business owner who often feels ensnared in the web of mundane tasks that could have been delegated to your team? Do you feel that these tasks are holding you back from focusing on the core aspects of your business? If so, this blog post is for you.
Let’s start by asking ourselves a simple question. How many of your daily tasks are actually contributing to the growth and profitability of your business? A friend of mine, also a business owner, recently shared his struggle with managing his time. He was constantly juggling between tasks that were critical to generating revenue and those that just needed to be done. His frustration was palpable.
You might have heard of the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80-20 rule. This principle suggests that 20% of your actions bring 80% of the results. But if you are swamped with tasks that don’t directly contribute to your business, how are you supposed to focus on that crucial 20%?
The problem, in my view, lies in our inability to delegate effectively. We often get caught up in urgent tasks that demand immediate attention, leaving us no time to delegate. The first step to break this cycle is to identify these tasks that you need to delegate. Start recording every time you find yourself doing a task that doesn’t contribute to your business growth.
The next step is delegation. Many of us struggle with the idea of delegating tasks, as it can feel demeaning. But here’s a different perspective – by delegating, you are not just offloading your work onto someone else, you’re giving them an opportunity to excel in what they love doing.
For instance, consider a receptionist who loves engaging with customers. Every time you answer the phone, you are stealing an opportunity from them to do what they love. Looking at delegation from this perspective can help you overcome your reluctance to delegate.
So how do you delegate effectively? Here’s a tool that can assist – Loom. It’s a screen recorder that allows you to capture your tasks and delegate them easily. All you have to do is record yourself performing the task, annotate your actions, and voila! You have a process ready to be delegated.
Remember, the ultimate goal of delegation is to free up your time for tasks that directly contribute to your business goals. If you’re not working on tasks that align with your long-term vision, then you need to reconsider your priorities and start delegating.
So, start today. Identify the tasks that are holding you back, delegate them, and focus on driving your business forward. After all, your business depends on you to do what you do best.
- Hugh Reardon