Letting go: 5 ways to release your inner control freak

Are you a master delegator? No? Thought so. Few of us are. As small business owners, we have our way of doing things—our routines—and we often hesitate to let go or to delegate. Most of us feel the need to maintain control over all the little details of the business even as the weight of those responsibilities becomes increasingly uncomfortable.

Then there comes a point in the life of the business—maybe it’s year one or maybe it’s not until year two or three—where you recognize that something must change. You can’t continue to be effective when juggling an inordinate number of responsibilities, let alone maintain your sanity. You start looking for a way to lighten the load.

Of course you have fears:

“I’m not sure I can trust someone else to do this.”

Your business is your livelihood, your baby. You’ve stayed up nights working to keep everything afloat—you’ve bled for it. You don’t want anyone to screw it up.

And of course you have objections:

“If it doesn’t get done right, I’ll just have to do it anyway. It’s easier if I just do it and get it over with.”

“I don’t really want to pay someone to do this—it’s not that hard.”

It’s true—you’ll need to trust, and it may not get done right the first time.

It’s also true that one thing might not be that hard, but cumulatively that one thing, along with all the other little “things,” can make for an unmanageable burden.

Growing pains
When you’re just starting out and your client base can be counted on two hands (or two hands and two feet), you might be able to afford to spend time wearing multiple hats, but as your business grows the demands on your time grow also, forcing you to cozy up to the idea of delegating.

So first things first: acknowledge that something needs to change!

Then use these five steps to kick your inner control freak squarely in the bum.

5 ways to make it easier to let go

1. Delegate smaller tasks first. If you delegate and it’s not done right, give guidance and assist. Start with smaller items of less consequence and work up to delegating larger more significant responsibilities. This is also a great way to approach training your staff and building expertise on your team.
2. Delegate the things you don’t do well. Let’s face it. We aren’t great at everything on our plates. Take advantage of the strengths of others on your team. If you’re a smaller operation or even a one-man show, consider outsourcing.
3. Create or update an existing job description. If you already have staff that work for you, try updating an existing job description to include one or two of your current responsibilities. Or consider creating a new position.
4. Document the process to ensure the job is done the way you want. Create systems and processes that anyone (with the required skill set) can follow. Doing this work now will continue to serve you as your business grows and you expand your staff. Or if you ever decide to sell your business, this type of documentation can make your business more attractive to potential buyers.
5. Use contractors for things like bookkeeping and cleaning services. Outsourcing professional services to someone else is often more affordable than paying your own staff, and you’re getting someone who is an expert at doing that one thing.

Ready to delegate? Roll up your sleeves and let it go!

photo credit: Nguyen Vu Hung (vuhung) via photopin cc