Sometimes, if we haven’t worked with a support person before it can be hard to turn over the tasks that we are so used to doing ourselves.
We worry that someone else can’t do it the same way as us (and that’s OK…they may have another, possibly even better way) or we think that it will be time consuming to train them.
The key is to look at delegation in the long term. Sure, you are going to have some on-boarding time with your support person but that extra few hours it will take in the beginning will pay you back tenfold when it frees up your time so you can take on more clients and start earning what you are worth, while all the day to day tasks that you don’t want or need to be doing are getting taken care of.
Here are 5 key ways to make this transition go smoothly:
1.) Know what you want done. This doesn’t mean you have to know everything you want to delegate right off the bat but you should have some idea of the tasks that you would love to have off your plate.
2.) Make sure your support person can handle the tasks. You can always train someone or have them do the support videos for a program if they are willing to learn it but you don’t want to have someone that really has no experience at all to be taking on a task you need done. For example, if someone doesn’t do website work or just dabbles in it here and there you don’t want them to redesign your website. They will struggle and you will be unhappy.
3.) Provide processes whenever possible. This is your business. You know how you like things done and you have been doing them currently to some extent. Whenever possible, handing your support person a walk through process of how you do things will help tremendously. They may have new ideas for you which will be great but for example if you want your newsletter sent out every week, providing your support person with a document that says your login to your email provider, the name of the template you use, the day and time you want the newsletter sent out and the list it goes to is great. Don’t hand the person your login and say figure it out and then get upset if they don’t do it the way you wanted. That is a recipe for disaster and a quick way to get your support person to run the opposite direction.
4.) Communicate. This is a big one. If you want weekly calls for updates get those setup. If you want email updates let the person know that. If you are not happy with something or want it done differently tell them. Remember that your support person is not a mind reader. If you get on that weekly call for months and say everything is great while you vent to your family about how you don’t like how something is done, that something will never be done right. Your support person will think things are great until the day you blindside them and suddenly say you haven’t been happy for months. Don’t put yourself or them through this when it could have easily been adjusted and corrected if you had just spoken up.
5.) Be clear about your expectations. If you go into the relationship with the understanding that you will take some time to get to know how to best work together without expecting them to know everything right out the gate your work together will be smoother and happier for both of you. Let them ask questions. Provide the answers to the best you can. They may ask more questions or have you review things more when they first start but if you have some patience this could turn into a relationship that continues for years. It could be one where you grow together and it could even turn into a wonderful friendship as well.
Building a support team in order to grow your business is a necessary act. The key is to make it fun, enjoy the experience and look at the opportunities that come up throughout.
And remember that if you really are not happy with the support person it is OK to say that as well and part ways. It may just be that your personalities or work styles differ too much. It doesn’t have to be a negative act of them doing something wrong. You don’t have to make them or yourself feel bad when you part ways. If they are not a match tell them. If they are not doing things how you like give constructive feedback so they can improve for their next client.
Enjoy the growth process and if you have any questions or I can help in any way please don’t hesitate to reach out!