The Driver Chooses The Music

We have a rule
for road trips
– the driver
chooses the music.

They have control
over the little things
that make
their job easier.

This thinking
applies to
delegating tasks also.

When we delegate a task,
yes,
outline the important things
that must be accomplished.

But leave the little things
to the person
we’re delegating the tasks to.

If a social media post
is to be scheduled,
for example,
yes, tell the person
when that post should go live.

But maybe don’t tell them
the hour of the day
they should craft the post.

Don’t tell them
what they should be wearing
while crafting the post.

Don’t tell them
not to listen to music
while they craft the image-only post.

Leave the little details
to the person you’re delegating
the task to.

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.

Delegating For Control Freaks

I have currently delegated
a task
to someone
who gets things done
but always does everything
at the last moment.

It is testing me
especially as I’m someone
who prefers to complete tasks
well in advance.

I remind myself
that his track record
of completing tasks
is dang near 100%.

I am keeping myself busy
with other tasks.

I have scheduled
once a day
check ups with him.
He won’t have anything done
but this stops me
from checking with him
every five minutes.

If you are finding
delegating
challenging,
put systems in place
to help you
manage.

This is
a YOU problem.
YOU need a strategy
to deal with it.

What Is Your Limited Resource?

In my Romance Novel business,
my most limited resource
is
my time.

I outsource almost everything
except the writing.
I COULD outsource that also
but I prefer to own that completely.

(One of the reasons
I started the Romance Novel business
was to bring MY stories
to life.)

My product development
and my business’ growth
is limited by the time
I’m willing to allocate
to the business.

ALL of our businesses
have limitations.

And as
Seth Godin
shares

“Finding the one thing
that is at the heart
of your value/scarcity matrix
makes it much easier
to focus your energy
on strategic decisions.”

I know, for example,
I can’t grow my business
in a certain direction
if implementing that strategy
will utilize a lot of my time.
I don’t have that time
to allocate.

Determine your most limited resource
and then figure out
how to grow
using as little of it
as possible.