Written by: Janifer Wheeler, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Delegating some of your daily responsibilities may not only relieve you from your 18-hour work days or 80-hour work weeks, but it may also benefit your company in the long run.
If you’re a solopreneur, startup or small business, then chances are you wear many hats. This is not only exhausting but it can also inhibit growth and prevent your company from reaching its full potential. And this is where delegating comes in: the process of assigning tasks to others so you can focus on more important work.
Below are 10 daily tasks that you should be delegating so you can focus on growing your business.
Setting up Appointments While this may not seem like a big deal, scheduling appointments take up a lot of time. If you’re already over-extended this can be one of the first things to go. Instead, hire an assistant or virtual assistant to schedule your meetings for you.
Preparing Invoices It doesn’t matter if you outsource invoicing or not, it’s still a tedious task that should be delegated. Make sure you hire an assistant who will stick to your system and stay organized with accounts receivable, saving you time and headaches on follow-ups.
Marketing We all hate marketing, but it has to get done or else no one knows about your company (or brand). Whether you outsource it or hire an intern, marketing is key to growing your business and it should be delegated.
Graphic Design Graphic design may not seem like a team-heavy job but that doesn’t mean you can’t outsource it or hire a virtual assistant. If you’re already spending money on marketing then why not invest in professional looking graphics to push your product/brand?
Writing Emails Hate writing emails? It’s understandable. Most people do. As sales professionals, it is our job to write emails that get responses and help close deals. Hire an assistant who knows how to sell so you can focus on what you do best – closing the deal.
Accounting Easily one of the dullest tasks on this list, accounting shouldn’t have to be a daily activity. You should have an accountant who oversees your company’s finances and deals with all of that boring paperwork. In turn, it’ll free up more time for you to focus on the important things – growing your business!
Preparing Quotes This is another tedious task that will eat into your day. Single sales reps should definitely hire an assistant who can prepare quotes for them. And if you deal with clients on a regular basis, then this is something you have to delegate!
Administrative Tasks Whether it’s order fulfillment or phone orders, there are some tasks that you just don’t have time for. Delegate these types of administrative tasks so you can focus on sales.
Website Design & Maintenance Website design is more than just setting up the HTML code, it’s also about growing traffic and keeping your site current with your brand. Save yourself time and money by hiring an assistant who can help you manage your online presence.
Editing Videos Even the most simple video editing task, like cutting scenes or removing mistakes, takes time. If time is money then it’s definitely worth it to outsource this type of work. You’ll be able to save both if you hire an assistant who knows their way around Adobe Premiere. Don’t let your business be held back by tedious tasks. By delegating these 10 daily activities, you’ll free up more time to focus on growing your company!
How to delegate efficiently?
Now that you have some ideas of the tasks you should be delegating, you might be wondering how to start.
Hire the right people Whether it’s hiring an assistant or virtual assistant, make sure they are the right fit for your business. Don’t settle on someone who won’t be able to handle tasks well or worse – give you a headache.
Make delegating part of your routine It sounds counterproductive, but if you never delegate then you’ll always have these ten tedious tasks to complete. Instead, make a list of these tasks and assign them to your assistant or virtual assistant each week.
Build a time management system Time management is about prioritizing tasks so that you can complete them more efficiently. Identify the steps involved in the task, as well as any materials or tools required to perform it and the desired result. For example, “Every day at 8 a.m., noon, and 4 p.m. go through my emails.”
In Closing
Task delegation is a skill that you can improve with practice and strategies. Just ensure that when you delegate you go through the steps of the ‘what and how’ of the task.
When task delegation fails, don’t give up on delegation. Most of the time it’s due to a lack of communication and expectations. So, if you want to grow your small business, use these steps to start moving items off your plate to team members who have the right skills and who you can trust.
Need more help with delegation? Contact us to learn about our productivity consulting services for small business owners. Schedule a discovery call today!
Janifer Wheeler, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Janifer Wheeler is a former teacher turned entrepreneur. She’s spent over 25 years helping schools & small businesses get their shift together through process design, internal structure, education, and workplace culture.
She started The JOYFull BadAss Business Academy™ to help other BadAss female biz owners win the burnout battle using JOY as a business strategy. Her work-at-your own pace courses are delivered via MicroText, making them easier to integrate into your daily routine.
Her clients have gotten trapped by their own brilliance and believe the hype that you must hustle & grind or you will never be successful. No one at the JFBBA believes that BS. If it’s not JOYFull, they aren’t doing it.
As an advocate for JOYFull alignment, she facilitates a process that ensures you are working in your JoyFull Zone of Genius more than you aren’t. And for the rest of the shift that needs to be done, hand it over to staff or an assistant.
It sounds scary ‒ giving other people control, but the JOYFull BadAss has your back. She will help you create the process, structure, and workplace culture you need to effectively and efficiently build a team that will help you avoid business owner burnout and realize the goals & dreams you set for yourself.
Janifer is an award-winning international speaker and facilitator who can infuse your organization, conference, workshop, or event with joy and BadAssery.
She enjoys connecting with people through her global networks that including Netwomen.co, Mums at Work, Amazing Women Alliance, The JOYFull Badass Network, Polka Dot Powerhouse, Brainz Magazine, FEM, and Entrepreneurs Rocket Fuel. There’s no limit to what can be done when we lift each other up.
