Whether you’re running an international business or working on a solo project in your home office, I’m positive that you can get more done while growing your team with better delegating.
That said, delegating will always be easier for mid-to-large-sized companies. And there isn’t much of a trick to it; you just have to empower your employees and check in regularly. Without commenting on his policies, Reagan’s “trust but verify” is particularly relevant here.
Tell your employees what they’re responsible for, the parameters of how you expect them to accomplish those goals, then direct them to the big red “I’m Stuck” button that they can press if they need to. That doesn’t mean they need to bother you with little choices, but they should ask for help when they’re deadlocked.
Then you leave them to it.
A noobie might need check-ins, so just make sure you’re keeping an eye on the most important parts of their work. Provided you’re not constantly looking over their shoulder, this is a great time to get feedback on your processes.
Once they’re more acclimated to the role, check in less often, but remind them about the big red “Stuck” button.
When you’re setting up a delegating culture, make sure that everyone is following the model above. Nobody should be checking with someone three layers below them; otherwise your most important players are wasting time verifying work all day.
Things are a little different for solo enterprises, but there are still tasks you can delegate.
If you’re tired of wasting time managing your books, outsource that work to your accountant. If you’re sick of managing your marketing, talk to an agency. You’d be amazed how much time and work you can save with a $500 monthly expenditure.
You don’t need a team to hand off your work, and these same delegating principles can free you up to focus on what you’re good at.
That’s really it; trust your people to do their jobs, check in occasionally, and mostly, just get out of people’s way. You brought them on for a reason, and if you’re really not sure that they can do their jobs, then you probably have the wrong people.