As a content creator or small business owner, you wear a lot of hats—marketer, content creator, accountant, manager, and sometimes even customer service. It’s a lot to juggle, and while it may feel like you’re managing it all, eventually, the overwhelm can take over. That’s where delegation comes in.
Learning how to delegate effectively is one of the best things you can do for your business. It allows you to free up time, reduce stress, and focus on what you do best. But if you’ve never outsourced before, the question becomes: where do you start?
Let’s dive into how you can delegate like a pro and what to outsource in your business first to get the support you need.
How to Delegate Like a Pro: What to Outsource in Your Business First
Step 1: Identify Your Most Time-Consuming Tasks
The first step to effective delegation is recognizing the tasks that take up the most time but don’t require your specific expertise or attention. These tasks often fall into the “busy work” category, and while they are necessary, they don’t necessarily need to be done by you.
Some examples include:
- Responding to emails
- Scheduling appointments or meetings
- Social media management (posting, engagement, etc.)
- Basic customer service inquiries
- Data entry or bookkeeping
- Managing your calendar
These tasks might be essential, but they’re likely ones you can hand off to someone else, freeing up your time to focus on more high-level activities like content creation or strategic planning.
Step 2: Determine What You’re Not Good At (Or Enjoy)
As a business owner, you might feel like you should be good at everything, but truthfully, no one is good at everything. So, take an honest look at the things you’re either not skilled at or simply don’t enjoy doing. Outsourcing these tasks can save you time and energy, so you can focus on the areas where you excel.
For example:
- Graphic design – If you don’t have a background in design or simply don’t enjoy it, it’s worth outsourcing to a graphic designer who can make your content look professional and on-brand.
- Content writing – If writing blog posts, captions, or email newsletters isn’t your strength, outsourcing this task can help you maintain consistency without burning out.
- Accounting – Handling finances might not be your forte, and it doesn’t have to be. A bookkeeper or accountant can manage your numbers, taxes, and budgeting.
By outsourcing tasks that are outside your strengths, you’ll free up space for creativity and focus on growing your business.
Step 3: Start Small – Hire for Specific Tasks
Delegating doesn’t have to mean hiring a full-time employee right off the bat. You can start small by outsourcing one or two tasks that are most pressing or burdensome. This allows you to get a feel for working with someone else and gives you time to establish systems before taking on larger outsourcing projects.
Wondering what to outsource first in your business? Consider:
- Virtual Assistant (VA) – A VA can handle a variety of tasks, from managing your email inbox to scheduling meetings to organizing your calendar. A good VA will help streamline your day-to-day tasks, freeing up your time for the bigger picture.
- Social Media Manager – If social media is consuming too much of your time, consider outsourcing this to a social media manager who can schedule posts, engage with followers, and curate content.
- Content Writer – Need to keep your blog or website updated but don’t have the time to write? A freelance writer can help you create regular blog posts, newsletters, or website copy, ensuring fresh content without the stress.
Starting small with specific tasks gives you the chance to test the waters and determine if delegation is right for your business.
Need a task management tool for collaborating with team members? Give Asana a try!
Step 4: Focus on What You Do Best
When it comes to outsourcing, one of the most important questions to ask yourself is: “What should only I be doing?”
For example, as a content creator, your time is best spent creating the content that resonates with your audience—whether that’s videos, blog posts, photos, or any other form of media. You should be focusing on growing your brand, connecting with your audience, and expanding your influence.
Outsourcing the repetitive, administrative tasks allows you to focus on what truly matters—content creation, strategy, and overall business growth.
Step 5: Build Trust with Your Team
When you hire someone, whether it’s a VA, social media manager, or graphic designer, trust is key. You’re handing over a part of your business, and it’s essential that you build strong relationships with the people you hire.
- Set clear expectations – Before delegating, make sure you’re clear about your expectations for the tasks, deadlines, and any specific guidelines.
- Provide the right tools – Invest in systems and tools that will help you and your team stay organized and on the same page. Tools like Asana, Trello, or Slack can help with communication, project tracking, and task management.
- Give feedback – Provide regular feedback so your team knows what’s working and what can be improved. Don’t wait for issues to pile up—open, honest communication leads to better results.
By building trust with your team, you’ll feel more confident in delegating and be able to grow your business without feeling like you’re doing everything yourself.
Step 6: Let Go of Perfectionism
One of the hardest things about delegating is the fear that someone else might not do things the way you would. However, to grow your business, it’s important to let go of perfectionism and allow others to take ownership of tasks. After all, you hired them for their expertise.
Give yourself permission to step back and trust the process. As you work with your team, you’ll see that delegation leads to better outcomes—whether that’s more time for you to focus on your business or fresh ideas from a new perspective.
Step 7: Reassess as You Grow
Delegation isn’t a one-time thing—it’s an ongoing process. As your business grows, your needs will change, and the tasks you choose to outsource will shift too. Reassess what you’re outsourcing and what you’re still handling on your own to determine whether it’s time to delegate more.
As you scale, you may find that your business requires additional support, whether that means hiring more VAs, a project manager, or even a full-time employee. The key is to stay flexible and delegate when you feel it’s the right time.
Learning how to delegate like a pro takes practice, but it’s a game-changer for your business. By outsourcing tasks that aren’t the best use of your time, you’ll be able to focus on the work that truly matters and move your business forward. Whether you’re just starting or have been running your business for a while, delegation is the key to working smarter, not harder.
Interested in learning more about our VA, social media, or content creation services? Get in touch!
