Does your client seem to give you a task, and then take it back? They may ask you to do something, and then complete it before you’ve had a chance to log back into your computer. Or, they may micromanage you even after providing training and establishing a system of completion with you. In this article, we’re going to share some tips to encourage delegation as a virtual assistant.

Delegation Is Difficult for Entrepreneurs.

Can I be honest for a minute? Leadership often reveals trust issues your client never knew she had. Pause and think about that for a moment - when you were assigned a group project in school, were you the person who felt like they had to do it all? Were you worried about getting a bad grade if you trusted someone else to do their part?

Unfortunately, this is a similar feeling for many leaders on a much larger scale.

After all, their business is probably their baby, their livelihood, and an extremely important part of their lives. They also likely did everything themselves for years before growing a team. This makes it that much harder to know how to trust a teammate.

How To Know When Your Client Is Holding On To Tasks

When I talk to leaders, I encourage them to split business tasks into three categories. First there are tasks that they should delegate immediately. These are things that they don’t enjoy, aren’t very good at, and take too much time to do.

Then there are things that leaders can do, but they don’t enjoy it. They have learned the skills to complete the task, but it still takes too long and isn’t their sweet spot.

Finally, there are tasks that your client is truly passionate about. They’re the things he or she grew their business to support. These are the tasks that they should always do.

Understanding where different tasks in your client’s business fall will help you identify when they’re taking on a task that they could delegate. It is not your responsibility to delegate for your client. However, when you are finding that a client is overwhelmed and possibly micromanaging, you can ask questions. This looks like, “Hey, I have about an hour left this week, would you like some support in xyz areas?” Or, “I noticed that this thing in your business could use some attention, is it a priority right now?” Or, “I’ve got x hours left in our contract this week, where else could you use support?”

Creating Space For Trust

We have a saying around Rock Solid: “Trust until you can’t anymore.” This is my personal leadership style. I default to trusting my team, and I will only stop when I’m shown repeatedly that I cannot trust. However, blind trust is simply poor leadership.

We require all of our virtual assistants to use a time tracker, and there is a deeper reason than you might expect. We don’t require this simply because we think that people will take advantage of working from home. We hire incredible talent and integrity! I believe that our VAs work all of their paid hours, and then some. So why do we emphasize a time tracker so much?

Because when you track the time that your tasks take, it will give your client the ability to see your work on what they delegate. When they see your reliability and great skills, they will feel more comfortable trusting you with additional tasks.

As you work through the things they delegate, it’s important to follow up with questions. If you feel like you need further instruction or clarity, then ask! We recommend using Loom to review what you’re working on and ask questions as you go.

Ways to Empower Your Client

It may sound strange, but you can empower your client! Ways to do this are practicing what we mentioned above. You can also ask for more training if a task they ask you to handle feels unclear. You should also make it a habit to ask your client what their expectations are for new tasks, or ask for a refresher if they’re starting to micromanage or express dissatisfaction.

Then, make sure you establish accountability. This is important for all tasks. During your weekly meetings, review what you’ve accomplished, what you’re working, and what you need more information around. Are you using a project management tool like Trello, Clickup, or Asana? Even the most brilliant team member needs accountability and tracking. Empower your client to track with you through using one of these shared tools.

Signs of Successful Delegation

When you’re supporting your client in delegation, your job will be easier! You will be able to complete your work confidently and use your gifts to their fullest. You may even be able to work with them in establishing business processes that support overall growth.

Remember, You’re Not Failing

Working with a client who struggles to delegate can be frustrating. If they are constantly dissatisfied or feel the need to have their hands on everything all the time, it may not be a reflection on you. Some people simply struggle to trust others with their vision.

Try implementing some of our suggestions above and see how they work! As you intentionally support your client in delegation, you will likely grow stronger as a team. So keep doing a great job, friend. And when you do mess up, reflect on it to see what you can learn, then keep going.

Talk soon,

Tracy

How Encourage Delegation as a Virtual Assistant