How small business owners can overcome the fear of delegation?

Answer 1

discuss delegation with staff first, point out each of their strengths and weaknesses and explain why you have chosen to delegate the specific tasks to the individual. don't worry about their reaction, they are paid to do what the manager tells them (within reason, of course) ;)

Answer 2

Inch by inch . . . one step at a time. It is scary and many business owners make the mistake of thinking that they will get around to delegating more tasks "once this client is serviced", "next year", "after we exceed $x in revenues." Big mistake. There is only one time to start implementing delegation practices into our businesses and that time is NOW.

Do not scare yourself out of thinking this is something that you have to tackle in its entirety in one fell swoop. Instead, take it one step at a time and before you know it, you will be amazed with the results.

Here are some tips to help you ease your way into it:

1. Start small. Right now . . . today. Select one small aspect of your business that you will delegate to someone else. The significance of the task or responsibility is not important at the moment. Instead, focus on the process. You can't select something too small. Just pick something and get moving.

2. Make your expectations clear. You know how you would do something because you are the owner and you CARE more than anyone working for you will ever care. Therefore, discuss this new delegated task in detail with the person(s) you have selected. Make your expectations crystal clear. Then follow up and expect their results - often at first, then eventually, seldom but random. Remember this phrase: "You get you inspect, not what you expect." You cannot delegate and forget . . . this never works.

3. Write it down. Your expectations and training will eventually fade into the recesses of your staff's minds. You will remember the conversation differently than they will. With each passing day this gap will grow. Avoid this by creating a procedure that covers not only the steps to the procedure that they are executing but also general guidance (cautions, lessons learned, initial conditions, exceptional circumstances, alternative courses of action, and MOST IMPORTANTLY. . . .when to seek assistance)

4. Delegate the WHAT not the HOW. After you have experimented, with success, of delegating some very basic tasks, try your hand at delegating "results" not a "procedure.". You will be amaze at what your people come up with if they are empowered to fill in the blanks of the solution. For example, if your sales goal is 1000 units per week. Try delegating that result to a trusted team member, instead of delegating the procedure that you have previously used to ensure you met that goal.

Never forget that you will NEVER get to the mountaintop of small business success without slaying the fierce dragon of delegation. Further, this fight is not a sprint . . . it is a marathon. Take the first few steps TODAY.