Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should! When you try to do everything on your own, something or someone suffers.

I often hear from friends and clients alike: “I need to delegate more.” And then, within seconds, they say, “But I don’t have the time to delegate, and even if I did take the time, I don’t think there’s anybody who will understand my work, take it as seriously as I do, and do it well.”

As a result, nothing gets delegated and they are left doing everything for themselves.

The problem is not a lack of capable and committed people willing to help. People simply don’t know how to delegate and are afraid to let go. The fear of letting go can be all-consuming, creating the illusion that there is no way forward.

The way to grow your business without increasing the amount of time you work is to stay in your genius zone — do the work you love and delegate the rest.

Here’s what I recommend to put you on the path to becoming a delegation superstar:

1. Do your research. You need to understand what skills are needed by the person you’re going to hire. Just like hiring an accountant to do your taxes, you’ll want to find someone with expertise. If you need to delegate setting up your newsletter, find someone with experience using MailChimp, Mailerlite, Constant Contact, or a similar program.

This may sound obvious, however, too often solo professionals hire their friends who, unfortunately, don’t have relevant experience. You wouldn’t hire a friend who knew nothing about Dentistry to act as your Dentist — delegation of your business needs works the same way; specific skills are required.

2. Take time to plan. It’s important to give the person doing the work sufficient time to schedule it into their calendar and get it done. This requires planning ahead, developing a realistic timeline, and considering availability. When preparing my taxes, for example, I ask my accountant on Monday if he has time on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning to review my paperwork. I don’t just assume he is available and send it over. You do need to be prepared for the answer to be “no” or “not this week.”

3. Provide specific information. “Can you handle this?” or “Is this something you can do?” is not enough information for the person you’re delegating to — even if it’s a simple and (in your mind) self-explanatory task. Include details, timelines, and any supporting information. For example: “I’m ready for you to submit my monthly expense report. Attached is a PDF with my receipts. Can you confirm the report will be submitted by Friday at 10:00 am?” Be thorough: include deadlines and guidelines about how you’d like the work done.

4. Create check-in and control points. If you’ve delegated a project, schedule check-in points for milestones to make sure things stay on track. Sometimes there can be misunderstandings about the required tasks even when you both think you understand. Regular meetings will help with discovery and allow for adjustments.

5. Develop a communicative relationship. Communication is key in all relationships. When you work with someone, you are in a relationship with them. I don’t mean you need to be best friends, but simple things that work in your other relationships will work in this one too. A simple “Thank you — great job!” or “How was your weekend?” will go a long way. Be sure to answer questions about the project quickly so that it can stay on track and on time. Your work together will require conversation — either written or verbal.

The person assisting you wants to do a good job. If that is not happening, check these five points to see where the two of you might be going off track.

Delegation is a powerful way to leverage your time and get help with areas of your business where you might not have expertise or simply don’t have the time to do it all. Done well; delegating can be a big win for you and your business.

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