Delegating…. Are you good at it? Does it reduce your stress or increase it?
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Dictionary.com defines delegate as to “entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person”.
I will fully admit that this was super hard for me both in our personal life & in the business, even within the last year. When I had to delegate, it caused stress at first, if I even did it!
The idea of trusting someone to do a job I could do, even if I didn’t have time for it, was hard because I knew the level of quality I would do in the job in the business. In our home, sometimes it was just easier & faster to do a task than to explain & show a child how to do it even though I knew they needed to build those skills!
But here’s the thing, as a Mompreneur, you just cannot do everything on your own!
There, I said it. In black & white, right in front of you. You can’t do everything on your own! If you don’t want to lose your mind, you have to delegate tasks in all areas of your life.
One of the first lessons you learn as a business owner, I think, is that you have to focus on your “zone of genius,” and as soon as you’re able, delegate what’s outside of that zone. That might look like hiring a VA, a bookkeeper, an employee, or a contractor. But it requires delegating so that you’re not so overburdened that you can’t do the most important part of your business.
When setting up your business legally, do you spend hours figuring out the correct wording for your contracts or LLC papers? Or do you hire a business attorney who knows what they’re doing & can set it up correctly for you?
When you’re getting ready to do your taxes, do you slog through a do-it-yourself tax program, or do you contact a CPA so that you get the best tax benefits possible?
For my business, there are areas that I absolutely have to delegate. For example, my strong point is bookkeeping. That’s what my focus is, that’s what I know, that’s what I love. Taxes? That is 100% not my focus & I don’t want it to be. So I have a few people I use to outsource that task for my clients.
I believe the same principle applies to life in the house as a Mompreneur.
Let’s think about what is on our shoulders as a Mom.
Not only do we typically deal with making meals, grocery shopping, cleaning, Dr visits, schooling (either drop-offs/pick-ups/homework, or homeschooling & all that entails), but we also are typically the ones who get up with our darling children at night, chauffeur them around for activities, late-night talks, & being the emotional support system, just to name a few.
I’m not sure about you, but when I look at that list, I get overwhelmed & we’re not even looking at the business list! 😊
There is a Mompreneur on Instagram that I follow & she recently did a video where she talked about how she manages business/life/family. She was very clear that she only manages as well as it looks like she does because she has help! She has a fantastic Mother’s Helper who comes in to be with the kids & supports them around the house & manages meals.
Ladies, delegating for household tasks is the same as outsourcing tasks for your business!
I totally get it if it’s not in the budget, but if it is, why not?!
Obviously, some tasks will need to stay on your shoulders. But look at the tasks that you could delegate out to someone else!
There are household chores that we delegate to our kids in our house. Emptying the dishwasher is one of the easiest ones. I’ve had to release the “ideal” way of doing things. I don’t necessarily stress anymore about how it gets done as long as it’s done by when I asked for it to be done!
Recently it was our #4’s turn to empty the dishwasher. He knew when it needed to be done & amazingly, on this day, he actually did it when he was supposed to! So, I ended a call I was on & went into the kitchen & just started laughing. He decided to get creative & made a sculpture from the plastic kid dishes on the counter above where they were supposed to be put as he emptied the dishwasher. Everything else was put away where they were supposed to be, but he got creative & it made me smile.
Would I have made the sculpture? Nope, but it did make me smile while getting the rest of the dishes put away & he learned how to do a job with joy 😊
As much as I like to try to do everything on my own, I genuinely try to keep an open mind when it comes to the job being done & it’s given me so many opportunities to smile in circumstances like this one with the dish sculpture!
Here’s another way to look at things. Is the task that you’re working on a money-making task?
Now I know that home tasks aren’t necessarily money-making, but would you be able to do a money-making task for your business if you delegated a task?
While my son emptied the dishwasher (a non-money-making task but so important), I was on a call with a potential client (a potential money-making task).
I know of women who have hired someone to come in and clean their house, be with the kids, make their dinners, or even fold their laundry. It all comes down to what you need help with, what will lower your stress most, & what tasks you want to delegate.
I currently delegate the grocery shopping by doing online ordering & then either have it delivered or do pick-up depending on the week. My husband & I split up cooking dinner, and the kids have chores that we expect them to do rather than me doing it all on Saturday. We are looking at other areas to delegate out soon & I’m so excited.
Here’s what I would suggest you do when you’re feeling overwhelmed & need to delegate.
Look at what’s causing you stress, both in the business & at home.
Which of those tasks could be outsourced/delegated?
Which ones do you want to personally do, even if they can be delegated?
Talk to other Mompreneurs who are already delegating & learn from them.
Get creative with what to delegate, how you delegate, & who you delegate to!
Make that decision & find the help you need to help reduce your stress.
So, Momma, I know delegating can be stressful & hard to start. I know that giving up that control can seem overwhelming & sometimes it’s just easier to do it yourself, but the rewards for delegating & focusing on what is in your zone & or what brings you the most joy are so worth it.
Know that you are not alone, that you aren’t supposed to do it totally on your own, & there is always someone you can find to do almost any task you need help with!
Can you relate?
Is delegating hard for you?
Or what areas do you delegate out?
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