Kia ora e hoa ma

When I started my business, I thought I had to be involved in every single detail. Emails, meetings, client issues – you name it, I was in the thick of it. But here’s the truth: if you want your business to grow, you’ve got to let go. Delegating isn’t just about lightening your load – it’s about empowering your team, driving growth, and giving yourself the space to focus on the bigger picture.

Here’s how to start delegating:

1. 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝘀 Surround yourself with people who bring more to the table than you do. By hiring self-starters and letting them share in the rewards of their hard work, you create an environment where your team takes ownership of the tasks. You can’t grow if you don’t trust others to take the reins.
2. 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: Constantly distracted by emails where you’re just a CC? Set up a filter to file these away automatically and mark them as read. If it’s important, someone will come to you directly. Freeing yourself from unnecessary email clutter helps you focus on the work that really matters.
3. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗞𝗣𝗜𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 Delegation without clear expectations is a recipe for disaster. Set measurable KPIs so your team knows exactly what’s expected. When you clearly define success, the path becomes much easier to follow, and progress can be tracked effectively.
4. 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 One of the hardest parts of delegating is learning to let go of control. But here’s the thing – when you give your team the freedom to manage their tasks, they often surprise you with their initiative. Micromanaging kills creativity. Trust them, and magic will happen.
5. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 Instead of constant meetings, use task trackers to monitor progress. It’s a far more efficient way to stay in the loop without interrupting the flow of work. You can check progress at a glance and keep moving forward without the need for endless status calls.
6. 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁 Regular check-ins are important, but don’t let them spiral into time-wasters. Set a clear agenda and stick to it. Our team uses traffic light reports based on KPIs – red for issues, yellow for cautions, green for good to go. This structure keeps things focused and productive.
7. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿? This was a game-changer for me. When you delegate, the work might not always be done exactly how you would have done it – but does that really matter? If the job gets done well and the outcome meets your standards, it’s okay to embrace different approaches. Let your team have the freedom to tackle problems their way. You might even find their solutions are better than yours!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲? Delegating lets you focus on the bigger picture. It empowers your team, increases efficiency, and, ultimately, drives business growth. Start small – hand off one task this week and see how things change.