Leadership development series - Delegation
Let’s be real – there are just some tasks within your business that you’re not good at and no matter the numerous courses and masterminds you might enroll in or the books you read, it’s never going to be your thing! I tell everyone that QuickBooks is my kryptonite! Could I figure it out and do it as well as our incredible bookkeeper? Well, maybe — IF I loved it which I absolutely do not! UGH!! I absolutely hate having to deal with numbers and finances. Before I outsourced this part of my business, invoices were late and for all I know, I might still be missing a payment or two from those days! I procrastinated reconciling anything until it was a full day’s job that took every breeze out of my sails and left me with frustrated tears by early afternoon.
There are also those things that you can do and even do fairly well, but are you the best person for that job? Simply put, is it worth your time? Is it taking you away from your true passion and that thing that gets you out of the bed in the morning? Diana is the hiring manager at Rock Solid and though I didn’t mind interviewing and evaluating our VAs, she happens to do it far better than I ever could have. I would be crazy to not hand this off to her!
When we were learning about expectations, we kind of touched on the things you might hand off… with delegation, let’s talk about the “how-to” aspect.
We will only delegate if we can trust, correct? One thing I have learned and found to be best for my business and my leadership style is that I will make the decision to trust first, and trust until I can't trust anymore. This is not blind trust. I have decided what I would like my new teammate to do and I’ve done my homework and hired well. I've laid out what this new role is and where I need help the most. I have clearly outlined my expectations for my new teammate and now I need to demonstrate how I would like this person to use their special set of skills specifically within my business. Keep in mind that he or she may use those exact same skills very differently in a different role. She’ll need to clearly understand what I'm expecting specifically! I then hand the reins over and let my new teammate know I'm available to help as needed.
Leading from a posture of trust empowers those on your team more than you can even imagine! I do not want my people walking on eggshells, afraid to make a mistake, or scared to make a decision. I hired them because I’m confident in their skills and emotional IQ, and I most certainly know their hearts behind their work! Of course, there is an onboarding process and a learning curve - this kind of trust does not mean tossing them to the proverbial wolves! ...but it does mean clearly outlining their duties, my expectations, and then standing back to assist when and where needed. It’s also hugely beneficial to have systems or standards of procedure in place so you’re not answering questions that are clearly outlined elsewhere.
Within my team at Rock Solid, we use a “weekly meeting” list within Trello to keep track of items we need to discuss or follow up on each week. This helps me to not hover, not micromanage, and show my new teammate that I trust they have everything handled and can't wait to hear updates at our weekly meeting. The list shows them what is on my mind and what I want to know during our meeting, and vice versa.
The second reason I choose to trust might surprise you and I’m always hopeful this doesn’t sound offensive or seem too nonchalant. I was an RN for 11 years prior to starting Rock Solid. I worked in rural emergency rooms and large hospital ICUs. I’ve seen just about everything imaginable. One of the biggest take-aways from that part of my life is that if a mistake is made at Rock Solid, nobody died today. I say it possibly too often. As CEO’s, we absolutely loooove our businesses and want our clients and customers to feel 100% cared for and have the best experience at all times. I understand! At the same time, we’re human and mistakes will be made - even by the most detail-oriented, experienced person you know. Nobody likes to make mistakes or apologize when a mistake is made - quite frankly, it often stings. BUT… nobody died today! A slice of humble pie goes down more easily with a lot of grace and understanding and helps us to learn from and grow through every single mistake!
All of that to say - I can trust that if or when a mistake is made, it will be okay!! Nobody will die! The next mistake made might just be by yours truly - who knows?! Truthfully, allowing my team to “own” their role and responsibilities within Rock Solid decreases the potential for mistakes exponentially!
Your team morale will increase. Your teammate will be able to see you thriving in your gifts, and they will be able to thrive in theirs! Be sure to call out the good in one another as this happens!
Your teammates don’t need a crazy manager breathing down their neck and looking over their shoulder all the time! Give them the freedom to love your business and your people as much as you do! They’ll take pride in the work they do and steward well the ownership they possess with each project!
In the real world of work, delegating often looks like handing a task or project over to another person to handle autonomously - essentially, you are giving them the authority to work within your business using the guidelines you’ve laid out to complete the project at hand. They may assign you or other team members tasks as they work out the details and prioritize executable items within the project. If they are very clear on your expected outcome and have an open door to you for feedback, assistance, and guidance, they will be free to get the job done with excellence every time!
I read this somewhere (and regrettably don’t remember where), but I love it: “Look at what you have to do and give away all you can. If you trust others to deliver, you may well be surprised at the outcome—in a good way. Be very clear on your desired outcome. Make sure your employees are well resourced and let them loose. You may well be unlocking their God-given talent. The people you always wanted may already be with you.”
As our time comes to a close, I want to tie a pretty bow around all I’ve talked about and that little bow is this … You’re doing great!! Leadership isn’t for the faint of heart. If it was so easy, everyone would be doing it. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Keep putting your best foot forward and growing! We grow through things, and the process never ends! Just when we think we’ve got one thing conquered, another will pop up, I promise. Take it easy on yourself, say “I’m sorry” when it’s necessary, and learn from whatever happened. You’re on your way to being the amazing leader you were created to be!
