Small business founders are often known for their passion and dedication to their businesses. They’ve poured their hearts and souls in their ventures – working long hours and making countless sacrifices to get their businesses off the ground. But, as those businesses grow, founders often struggle with the idea (and the action) of delegating responsibilities.
Why is that? Founders have already taken that huge risk to start their business, so why is delegating such a struggle?
Delegating tasks means giving up control. From the start, founders are incredibly involved in their businesses. Letting go of even the smallest tasks can feel daunting. They may worry that someone else may not do the work as well as they can or that their business will suffer if they’re not directly involved in each decision.
It requires a lot of trust to delegate. They built their business from scratch and have a deep personal investment in its success. They may be hesitant to trust others to make decisions or actions on their behalf because ultimately, it’s their name that built the brand.
Finally, founders may just not know how to delegate. They may have never managed a team, or they may not have the systems or processes in place that will allow them to delegate successfully. This can lead to confusion, miscommunication, and frustration for both the founder and their team members. Which, in turn, may lead to more delegation hesitation.
So, what can small business founders do to overcome these challenges and delegate more effectively? The first step is knowing the importance of delegation. As businesses expand, founders simply can’t do everything themselves. Delegating frees up time and energy so that they can focus on the most important tasks and plan for the future.
Plus, giving team members opportunities allows them to grow and develop their own skills while building a sense of trust and confidence. But it’s imperative that founders set up systems and processes to guide decision making and guide consistency. This can include creating standard operating procedures, setting regular check-ins, and providing clear guidelines for decision making. By support, training, and expectations, founders can give their teams what they need to succeed.
Letting go (even just a little bit) is hard. If you’re a small business founder who’s struggling to delegate, let’s set up a time to talk.