Five Tips to Learn to Delegate in Your Small Business
Running a small business can sometimes feel like trying to juggle about twenty balls while riding a unicycle. Blindfolded. There’s just so much to do, and it can be really hard to let go of even the smallest task. But here’s the thing: you can’t do everything yourself forever. Learning to delegate is one of the smartest moves you’ll ever make as a business owner. It frees up your time, helps your business grow, and lets your team shine too.
In this blog, I’m going to walk you through five simple tips that’ll help you learn to delegate properly. It’s not about dumping your work on someone else – it’s about trusting people to help you build something brilliant. Ready? Let’s get into it!
Tip 1: Start Small and Build Up
If the thought of handing over anything makes you panic, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Delegating doesn’t mean chucking all your responsibilities at someone else overnight. It’s totally fine to start small.
Pick a few low-risk tasks to hand over first. Things like replying to simple emails, booking meetings, or posting updates on social media. These are the sort of jobs that don’t need your personal touch every time, and giving them to someone else can be a massive time-saver.
As you get more comfortable, you can start delegating bigger jobs. The more you practise, the more you’ll trust your team – and yourself – to get it right.
Tip 2: Be Crystal Clear About What You Want
One of the biggest reasons delegating goes wrong is because people aren’t clear about what they want. You can’t just say, “Sort out the website,” and expect someone to magically know what you mean.
When you delegate, you need to explain:
- Exactly what the task is
- When it needs to be finished
- Any important details or rules
- What a ‘good job’ looks like
It might feel a bit over the top at first, but trust me – spending a bit more time upfront saves loads of confusion (and stress) later on. It also makes people feel more confident because they know exactly what’s expected of them.
Tip 3: Choose the Right Person for the Job
Not every task is right for every person. If you give a fiddly numbers job to someone who hates maths, it’s not going to end well for either of you!
Think about what your team members are good at, what they enjoy, and what will help them grow. Delegating isn’t just about getting work off your plate – it’s about helping your team build skills too.
Sometimes you might need to do a bit of training or give someone a nudge in the right direction. But choosing the right person makes the whole thing easier, faster, and way less stressful for everyone.
Tip 4: Trust – and Let Go
Here’s where it gets tricky. Once you’ve handed over a task, you need to actually let the person get on with it. Micromanaging every tiny decision kind of defeats the point of delegating in the first place!
That doesn’t mean you vanish and hope for the best. Check in now and again, be available for questions, and offer feedback. But try not to hover or redo everything your way.
Remember: it’s okay if someone does a task differently to how you would. Different doesn’t mean wrong – sometimes it might even turn out better! Give people a chance to show you what they can do. You might be surprised.
Tip 5: Learn from Mistakes
No matter how organised you are, things will go wrong sometimes. That’s just part of running a business – and part of life, really.
If a delegated task doesn’t turn out how you wanted, don’t go straight to blame mode. Instead, treat it like a learning opportunity. Ask yourself:
- Was I clear enough about what I wanted?
- Did I choose the right person?
- Did I give them enough support?
Then chat with the person involved and work out how to do better next time. Keeping the atmosphere open and positive means your team will feel safe to take on more responsibility and grow from their mistakes too.
Why Delegation Matters More Than You Think
Learning to delegate isn’t just about saving your own sanity (although that’s definitely a bonus). It’s about making your business stronger in the long run.
When you delegate well, you:
- Free up time to focus on the big stuff that really needs your attention
- Help your team build confidence and skills
- Make your business less dependent on just one person (you!)
- Boost morale because people feel trusted and valued
Think about it like planting seeds. Every task you hand over and every bit of responsibility you share helps your business grow roots and branches. It stops being a one-person show and starts becoming something much bigger and stronger.
Final Thoughts: It’s a Skill, Not a Talent
Loads of small business owners struggle with delegation at first. That doesn’t mean you’re bad at running a business – it just means you’re human.
Delegating properly is a skill. Like any skill, it gets easier the more you practise. Some days it’ll feel a bit awkward, and you might mess it up sometimes. That’s fine. What matters is that you keep trying, keep learning, and keep trusting your team – and yourself – to do great things.
Remember: you’re not giving up control. You’re building something bigger than just you. And that’s pretty exciting, don’t you think?
Quick Recap of the Five Tips
Before you head off to delegate your first task (go on, you know you want to), here’s a super quick recap:
- Start small and build up
- Be crystal clear about what you want
- Choose the right person for the job
- Trust – and let go
- Learn from mistakes
You’ve got this. Happy delegating!