Tag: deciding which tasks to delegate

To-Do Lists And Delegating Tasks

I’m a big believer
in to-do lists.

I list the important tasks
I should complete
each day
and I cross those tasks off
the list
as I complete them.

It keeps me organized.
It gives me
physical proof
I’m making progress.

And it makes it easier
for me to delegate tasks.

If I’m ill
or I have an emergency
to deal with,
I can often
give
my to-do list
to someone I trust
and THEY will complete
as much of it as possible.

If they have limited skills
or knowledge
or time,
I can quickly scan
my to-do list
and assign some of those tasks
to them.

To-do lists help
with delegating tasks.
Use them.

The Best Time To Delegate

The best time
to delegate tasks
is BEFORE we need
to delegate tasks.

It is VERY challenging
to delegate tasks
when we are super busy.

Why?

Because delegation,
at first,
sucks up more time.
We have to train the person
taking on the task.
We have to quality check
their work.
We have to assure them
they’re doing a great job
and answer their questions.

Delegate
BEFORE you have to delegate.

Your future self
will thank you.

Don’t Delegate Tasks That Won’t Save You Time

Yesterday,
I talked about
how we shouldn’t delegate tasks
that we love.

We also shouldn’t delegate tasks
that will never
save us time.

Yes, initially,
it will take longer
for us to delegate
a task
than do it ourselves.

We have to train
the person
and likely quality control
the output.

But once training is complete,
delegation of that task
should save us time.
If it doesn’t save us time,
we either have the wrong person
doing the task
or the task shouldn’t be delegated
at all.

For example,
a family member sends me emails
asking me to order items
for him
from a large online store.

He gives me
detailed instructions.
He picks up the item
from me.
And he gives me cash
for the item.

It would be MUCH faster
for him
to simply order it himself.
(He refuses to do this
for some unknown reason.)

His delegation
is not only costing me time
but it is costing him
MORE time.

Don’t delegate tasks
that will never
save you time.

Don’t Delegate The Tasks You Love

One of my writing buddies
LOVES crafting covers.

Her self-publishing business
is growing.
She has a lot to do
and is delegating tasks.

Other writers are telling her
to delegate cover creation.
(I’ve delegated this task also.)

I told her to keep it
on her task list.
She loves it.
There are other
less wonderful-for-her tasks
to delegate.

We need tasks
that give us happiness.

That feeds our souls
and it will help us
find the willpower
to continue building our businesses
when times are tough.

Keep the tasks you love.