You must pass the ball to win the game

Ever watched a game of junior rugby where a greedy kid hogs the ball and refuses to pass? He fancies himself as being much better than he is and wants to score all the tries but often shirks his share of defence. Often, he dies with the ball and frustrates his teammates, not to mention most of the parents on the sideline!

Does the same scenario play out in your business? If you are the owner, do you resist delegating key tasks to team members because, “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself”?

It’s a common situation I see in business. It may have come about due to failures or mistakes in the past, which then reduces the trust the owner has in his team members. Then rather than risking it again, the owner keeps way too much on his/her plate and works more hours to get it done. The danger here is that the business is stalled in its growth, frustrated key team members leave, and the owner risks a heart attack, marriage problems, or both. So, what should you do? There is no quick fix for the problem, but a commitment to put a programme of systemised delegation in place is a good place to start. That can be easier said than done in some cases, but let’s pick apart that sentence and identify the key components.

Commitment

The first commitment required is that of the owner. Accept you are not a superhero and that others can do what you do. Make a commitment to accept the fact people may only have 80% of your ability and skill level at best – and that’s okay. Make up the balance by improving your training and support of lesser skilled team members and develop good systems for people to follow. Commit to developing trust in others (but have processes in place to check!). Programme

Record which tasks you take care of for a few weeks, then review the list choosing which tasks could POSSIBLY be delegated to others. Rank those tasks and aim to steadily delegate them away over a specified time. There are likely to be tasks on the list that are mission-critical and should be retained by yourself and additional focus put on them. Delegating tasks on your list will free you up to spend time where you really should, or where you choose to.

Systemised

To make delegation successful, it needs to be systemised. Otherwise, it tends to be more of an “abdication” process and mistakes will be much more common. Setting clear outcome goals, clearly explaining the process, providing written guides or checklists and reporting back are all important steps in the process.

Follow these basic steps over time and you are far more likely to have a successful and growing business, not to mention a more satisfied team and lower blood pressure. For help in building a solid delegation process and basic management structure in your business, contact me at andy@tradescoach.co.nz

Andy Burrows, Director of The Trades Coach and NZCB National Partner. I encourage you to take advantage of a free business strategy review session to see how we can improve your business performance. Call Andy today on 027 688 6721 or email andy@tradescoach.co.nz.