Part III – Building your business through outsourcing and delegation
How to ask and get the job done
Something I’ve learned is that when I realise I’m not comfortable paying for a particular service, it’s not necessarily because I don’t need that service and it probably won’t be the paying for it that is stopping me. It’s just that I haven’t found the right person to work with or that service delivered in the way that is best for me, yet.
And you will know very soon that the person you have brought into your life is right, because of the sense of relief that begins to infiltrate your days. Things begin to go more smoothly, changes happen effortlessly and you can feel the safe pair of hands beside you. And when the invoice comes at the end of the month you are more than happy to pay because of the benefits that come with having this person in your team.
Another quick tip – To keep things going smoothly forward is to be really clear on your monthly budget and be sure that you both know what work is going to be done for your outlay.
So how do you go about asking for the jobs to be done in a way that is warm, clear and carries command? Do you believe that you have to get all brusque and a little bit masculine about it all? We can sometimes make this tricky for ourselves, but it needn’t be that way. If you are uncomfortable asking people to do
Part II – Building your business through outsourcing and delegation
How to go about attracting the right team and delegate for best results
A few days ago I wrote about the importance of planning to outsource and making sure you do it well before your business is yelling at you to do it.
The analogy I’ll make is this. Years ago my very elderly and frail in-laws were looking to down-size into more suitable accommodation, somewhere where they could maintain their independence but have some assistance closer to hand. Unfortunately, it did not get thought about sufficiently far ahead, too much time was spent not making a decision, my father-in-law became very ill and sadly died in hospital before the move could be made.
Now that is a drastic example but the point I’m making is this. Anticipate your need to outsource well ahead so that your business has time to ‘settle in’ and you will avoid always playing catch up.
So, how to outsource and attract those people that will work with and beside you for many years? A gentle word of advice – Don’t go blundering in with the ‘You just can’t get the staff’ attitude! Believe me – all that will get you is a perfect example of exactly what you don’t want!
So, here are some tips.
- List all the areas that you ultimately would like to outsource.
- Decide which area of your business you most avoid paying attention to yourself
- What area really needs some TLC (tender loving care) that you don’t know how to
Part I – Building your business through outsourcing and delegation
Wouldn’t you like to be in the enviable position of outsourcing those parts of your business to professionals who can really take the weight off your shoulders, and the pressure away from having to work out yet another aspect of your growing business – tasks that you could do, given the extra hour or two, but end up draining you? You know there is someone else out there just dying to handle that part of your business for you.
You are no doubt aware of the many successful business women for whom those days are long gone.
So how did it happen? But more to the point when did it happen for them? Which came first – the chicken or the egg – the burgeoning business or the help?
When should you delegate? When do you think is the best time to delegate and outsource? At what point in your business would you consider making this move?
I’ll tell you. It’s much sooner than most people ever realise they should. You cannot remain feeling safe and cosy and expect your business to grow. It is necessary at times to stand on the brink (it doesn’t always have to be a really long way down) and take some risks.
Of all the successful business mentors I follow and have worked with, all of them bar none began outsourcing before they really felt able to afford it. And so I did too – and although it was scary at the time, it
