As a Business Coach, I often see business owners getting to a certain point and then hitting the wall when it comes to business goal achievement or experiencing overwhelm in getting stuff done in their business. Often the problem lies in their approach to delegation.
You see, a growing business demands more than just task assignment. It requires developing a mindset that bridges the gap between being a manager and a leader. Let’s dive into how you can refine your delegation approach to spur growth, both for your company and for your team.
Why does the owner’s delegation approach need to change?
At the early stages of your business journey, you’re the jack-of-all-trades. From marketing to sales, from product delivery to tedious administrative chores, you’re the one orchestrating every move. But as growth kicks in, you find yourself handing over tasks to others, stepping into the managerial role.
Yet, a pitfall awaits many at this stage. They become entangled in managerial delegation, which involves choosing tasks, training individuals, overseeing work, and offering feedback. This approach turns you into the centre of a hub where every challenge and decision rotates back to you.
To truly soar, your mindset should transition from “How can I accomplish this?” to “How can this be accomplished?”
From Managerial Mastery to Leadership Luminary
The evolution from manager to leader demands a shift in delegation approach. Instead of merely delegating tasks, focus on entrusting entire areas of responsibility.
Consider your interactions with your IT support, accountant, or web developer. You trust their expertise without micromanaging every step they take.
Embracing High-Level Delegation
But what does a high-level delegation look like? To grasp this, let’s outline the foundational roles a leader plays in delegation:]
1. Set Big & Small Goals
- Visionary Leadership: Define a compelling vision and mission that acts as a guiding star for your team, setting the tone for future aspirations.
- Strategic Planning: Assess the current business landscape, integrate internal and external insights, and draft a robust plan aligning with your overarching mission.
- Clear Goal Setting: Collaborate with your team to crystallize SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals that strike a balance between challenge and achievability
2. Team Building and Empowerment:
- Know Your Team: Recognize individual strengths and aspirations. This knowledge aids in recruiting adeptly and placing individuals in roles where they can thrive.
- Resourceful Delegation: Allocate necessary resources to support goals and prioritize effectively.
- Alignment: Ensure individual goals resonate with the broader team and organizational objectives. This helps prevent conflicting objectives and encourages collaboration across functions.
- Inspire Commitment: Paint the big picture for your team, illuminating the relevance of their goals in the larger scheme of things.
3. Monitor progress and provide support:
- Monitor Progress: Establish regular checkpoints and track key performance indicators (KPIs) and make adjustments as needed to stay on track.
- Provide Support: Remove obstacles, provide necessary training, offer guidance, and create an environment where team members feel empowered to contribute their best.
- Adaptability: Circumstances can change. Be agile in adjusting goals as situations evolve.
- Promote Accountability: Champion a culture where each individual embraces their responsibilities wholeheartedly.
- Celebrate Achievements: Recognize milestones and reward goal accomplishments.
- Champion Continuous Improvement: Post-goal analysis can be a treasure trove of insights for future strategies.
Conclusion: Navigating Success with Elevated Delegation
Embracing leadership means assigning responsibility and then collaboratively determining how you can facilitate success. Exceptional leaders master the art of delegation, releasing the reins but guiding the direction.
Are you poised to become a successful leader? Consider partnering with a business coach to amplify your leadership potential and elevate your delegation game.
If you’d like more about how business coaching can help, get in touch with me. You can book an initial complimentary 15-minute call with me at TimeWithShane.com.
