Total control over all aspects of life can lead not only to a nervous breakdown or emotional burnout, but also to financial losses. Not wanting to delegate part of the authority, we can ruin our project. How to prevent this?
At a certain stage of career development, we can no longer do everything alone — work tasks need to be shared. This is normal and in theory very clear. Only project management cannot be entrusted to the first person you meet, because this person must combine the best qualities — to be responsible, in love with the work, disciplined … Just like ourselves.
With such a tough approach, the only candidate that meets all the criteria is the business owner himself. What beliefs and feelings prevent him from delegating work tasks?
Anxiety, anxiety!
Most often, our clear conviction “if you want to do it well, do it yourself” prevents us from delegating. Its roots are drawn from the past, usually from the history of a family that had to overcome difficult life circumstances.
One of the clearest examples is the 90s of the XX century, which became a serious test for many. At that time, specialists with higher education left the profession en masse and learned to earn money in the new conditions. The «I myself» program has become a kind of way to survive in a world where you can only rely on your own strength.
This belief applies to business as well. A new undertaking is often associated with anxiety, an objectless fear of something unknown, sometimes with a sense of impending disaster.
Anxiety, unlike fear, does not have a specific direction: we are not afraid of the dark or any particular person, but we experience a general concern. I want to end it as soon as possible, take everything under personal control.
Decision: To cope with anxiety, you need to face the problem and answer two questions to yourself: “What exactly is bothering me?” and “What will I do in this situation?”. It is better to write down the answers in order to plan a list of tasks for yourself and the team in advance.
Anxiety doesn’t need to be brushed aside like a pesky insect, it needs to be dealt with. And be sure to give yourself time to adapt to new conditions.
Impostor syndrome
Refusal to delegate can be associated with perfectionism, which encourages us to give our 120 percent. On the one hand, this desire is commendable. But he sometimes skillfully disguises our «impostor syndrome», in which we write off any success as an accident. Because of this, it seems to us that ordinary efforts are not enough to achieve a result.
In order for the «impostor» not to be declassified, he must work to the maximum of his strength and refuse outside help — otherwise he will not live up to the expectations placed on him, and his «secret» will be declassified. But the truth is that these expectations exist only in the head of our «imposter».
Solution: One of the ways to deal with the syndrome is to work on feedback, including from the team and significant people. It allows you to form a real picture of the world and an adequate idea of yourself.
More work — more money
One of the popular beliefs that we encounter almost daily is: “The more you work, the more you earn.”
This is partly true: in professions with hourly pay, you can get more for a 10-hour shift than for an 8-hour work day. But there are only 24 hours in a day — and in them you need to find time not only for work.
Our resources are limited and need to be replenished, so even the multi-tasking workaholic with “Imposter Syndrome” gets into trouble over time. We cannot do everything at the same time and at the same time with high quality — routine tasks require attention and concentration, they take away energy that could be spent on creativity.
As a result, something constantly falls out: bills are not paid, new directions are not developed, employees do not have a clear work plan for the week. It turns out that the previous formula is wrong. And in order to earn more, sometimes you need to work less.
How to learn to delegate?
In the long term, we need to not only survive in the business, but also continue to develop it, grow financially, and scale. What is needed for this?
- It is important to set a clear and achievable goal. Outline the deadlines for its implementation, prioritize and move in the right direction.
- Even at the preparatory stage, it is worth calculating the cost of your working hour. This practical exercise will allow you to understand which tasks and to what extent you can perform on your own, and which ones you can delegate. Many routine tasks can be transferred to hired employees — this applies to both one-time and permanent tasks.
This will give you more time to think through strategies, create creativity and work with the material. Which, in turn, will naturally lead to an increase in income.