Learning how to delegate as a solopreneur can make a significant positive difference to the success of your business. But when you’re so used to running things solo, the idea of letting someone else in on the action might make you want to run in the opposite direction, business in tow!
As Virtual Assistants, we’ve seen first hand just how much of a difference delegating can have for solopreneurs, if it’s done in the right way.
If delegating is something you know may benefit you but the idea of doing so is giving you palpitations, check out our guide below for learning how to delegate successfully as a solopreneur (it’s not as scary as it seems – honest!).
The Concept of Delegation
When you’re used to running things solo, delegation can sound like a blessing and a curse in equal parts. On the one hand, you’d kill for some extra support. But on the other, you’re consumed by the fear of handing over your precious business to someone who is, for all intents and purposes, a stranger.
This is where the concept of delegation sometimes gets lost (and where you might convince yourself delegation isn’t for you.) Delegation is less about handing over control to someone else and more about allowing others to support you in your quest for business success.
The beauty of delegation is that you are absolutely in control of it, while also not being overwhelmed by workload. You control what you delegate, how much you delegate, and who you delegate to.
If you keep this in mind when embarking on your delegation journey, it can make things feel a little less daunting.
Overcoming the Delegation Fear
The above leads us to the first step in learning how to delegate as a solopreneur – overcoming the fear!
It’s only natural to feel slightly anxious when dabbling in your first bit of delegation, so the best thing you can do here is start small. Dip your toes in the delegation waters, if you will. Select one or two small tasks – inconsequential tasks that won’t impact your business at all if things go sideways – and pass them onto someone else. This someone else may be a virtual assistant or a freelancer willing to take on these tasks for a temporary period.
Make it clear that you’re just giving this delegation malarkey a go, hand it over, and then try to forget about it.
Nine times out of ten, your delegation partner will work in the background to complete the tasks and return them to you, leaving you thinking, ‘oh, that wasn’t bad at all!’.
As a solopreneur, relinquishing control even in a small way can feel really unnerving. Starting in this way, with small tasks where the risk is extremely low, can help alleviating that feeling of dread and allow you to start to feel comfortable with the idea of enlisting business support.
Deciding what to Delegate
Now that the idea of delegating doesn’t put the fear of god into you (hopefully), it’s time to think about tasks that you should delegate, and tasks that you shouldn’t.
Some of the most common tasks businesses delegate are similar to those we mentioned above – small tasks that need doing, but aren’t necessarily make or break for your business. This may be administrative tasks, data entry, inbox management, social media scheduling. AKA, all the niggly bits of running a business that you always seem to run out of time for. If you consistently find yourself pushed for time, taking work home with you or desperately trying to find extra hours in the day, delegating these kinds of tasks could be ideal for you.
A lot of businesses also choose to delegate when they need a specialist on the case. This may include tasks like content creation and marketing, credit control or accounts management. If there are areas of your business that you feel less experienced in or feel an expert could enhance for you, it’s these tasks you should consider delegating.
Remember, delegating is there to support your business. It’s up to you to use it in a way that will best suit your visions and goals for your business going forwards.
Make a list of all the tasks you could use some support with, and delegate those you think will have the biggest positive impact overall.
Finding the Perfect Delegation Partner
Your business is your baby. You’ve nurtured it from the ground up, more often than not pouring blood, sweat and tears into the success you’ve achieved so far. Therefore, it’s incredibly important that you source a delegation partner who aligns with your values, visions, and goals.
Whether this be a freelancer or Virtual Assistant, you’ll need to check out their skills, experience, expertise and cultural fit to ensure they’re going to be a good match for your business. Feel free to get in touch with them for an informal chat, look into previous work and testimonials and ask as many questions as you like to ensure you feel comfortable sharing small parts of your business with them.
The good news here is that 99% of those offering delegation support are incredibly skilled, experienced and know exactly how to integrate seamlessly into a solo-run business.
Do your research and settle on a delegation partner who you know will have the best interests of you and your business as heart.
Reaping the Benefits
And just like that, you’ve learnt to delegate as a solopreneur. It’s dauting, it can feel a bit uncertain to start with, but you’ll find that the benefits you reap far outweigh any worries you may have had initially.
In the long-term, you’ll find yourself enjoying the following benefits:
More time on your hands – remember those extra hours you were on the hunt for? Delegating hands them to you on a silver platter. Tasks that you previously struggled to find time for will be taken care of without any extra effort on your part.
A more efficient business – while running your business completely solo is possible, benefitting from another pair of hands is inevitable. Processes become streamlined, productivity increases, and your business runs more efficiently overall with the right support.
Improvements in certain business aspects – for all those areas of your business you didn’t feel like an expert in, you’ve now got one on hand. Enlisting support for specialised tasks means benefitting from years of experience, expertise and tried and tested methods, all applied to your business.
Delegating with The Edwards Company
As a solopreneur, delegation can become an integral part of your business success. Not only does it free up some of your time to focus on core business functions, but it can also lead to a more efficient, productive business overall.
Here at The Edwards Company, we provide solopreneurs and small businesses with the support they need to ensure sustainable business success. For more information on how we can help, please do not hesitate to get in touch.