You Don't Have To Do It All Yourself
Have you ever said, “If you want something done properly it is best to do it yourself”, or perhaps “If you want it done right the first time, you should do it yourself”? These expressions, and many like them, can keep you trapped in a mindset where you believe you have to do everything.
This mindset can keep you trapped and prohibit growth. If you want to grow, both yourself and your business, you need to be able to work with and through people. This requires a set of skills and, most importantly, it requires a mindset shift. Many small business owners find employing your first person is often the biggest leap. There are some universal principles and truths that can help make this easier:
When you employ a new person, look for someone with the right attitude. Skills can be taught and learnt. If you learnt something somebody else can learn it as well. They will need to be willing to be taught and learn.
There is no ‘perfect’ time to delegate. A great guideline is if somebody can do something 50% as well as you, then you should give the task to them. This is especially true if it will free you up to do something which is more value adding to your business.
The better you know yourself, the better you can know and understand others. This is particularly true when looking at your strengths and other people's strengths. The areas you are strongest in are normally the areas you find the easiest and most natural to do. Maybe you're great at coming up with ideas or starting projects but really struggle with the finishing. Some people love finishing projects but do not have the knack for thinking up new ideas or starting a project. The more you and your team can work in their area of strength the more engaging and enjoyable it is likely to be.
While you might be able to do everything in your business it does not mean you should. Consider the areas where you add the most value to your business and spend as much time in those areas as possible. It can be worth listing these out for you and your team and then cross checking at the end of a day to see how much time you've actually spent in the high value adding areas.
There are other options to employing somebody. You can outsource work to contractors, free lancers and specialists. For me, the outsourcing of my accounts to a bookkeeper and accountant, freed up huge amounts of time and headspace. When we partner with somebody who enjoys doing what you find difficult, magic can happen. The key is to ensure that there is clarity around expectations and outcomes. All teams need good communication and this applies doubly when working remotely or outsourcing. It is essential that you can work well together and have a way of giving and receiving feedback effectively.
These are just a few ideas to help break the “I must do it all myself” mentality. Stretch and challenge your team to step up and you will likely be amazed at what they can do. This will free you up to and make their jobs more rewarding and fulfilling!
