Is there anyone who doesn't wish they had more time? Whether it's showing houses, networking to build your business, nurturing your children, or even (what a concept!) finding time for your own relaxation, there never seems to be enough to go around. We all get the same ration – 24 hours a day.
But what if you could take some of those hours and double them by accomplishing twice as much? It is possible, you know. You don't need a magic wand or a time machine. All you need is the discipline to delegate. I'm not saying that it's easy – none of us likes to think that someone else can do a task as well as we can. But that's the point; a task doesn't always need to be completed our way, it simply needs to be completed effectively.
One of the best things about delegating is it frees your time to do what you do best and enjoy most. When you delegate tasks you don't enjoy someone else you can grow and develop the skills you need to accomplish your own goals faster.
Start creating time for yourself by following the four steps of delegation:
Organize yourself first. Whatever task you are thinking of handing off, you need to see the whole picture in order to make delegation decisions. Think through the process, learn and use your systems, decide what you want to delegate.
Train your delegate(s). These days it's common to delegate to someone hundreds of miles away, so clear communication is essential. Take the time to explain the goal of the task, not just how to do the work. Based on the skill and experience level of the individual, allow time to give clear direction and answer questions. Helping people to be the best they can be is the highest and most productive level of delegation.
Entrust your delegate with the assignment. Resist the temptation to peek over their shoulder. Once you've explained the result you expect, give the person some room to do the work their own way. Remember that you're looking for the right result, not an exact copy of your own way of doing things. Answer questions but don't hover.
Follow up and evaluate. Mark your calendar to follow-up when the work is due. Praise a job well done and give useful feedback if improvement is needed. Did you get the result you wanted? Was it in the form you asked for and on time? If not, try to identify where the project got off track and what needs to be changed the next time.
Done right, delegating can double your time. What would you do if you had more hours in your day?
Talk with you soon!
Coach Patti
About Coach Patti Kouri:
Coach Patti, the owner of Accelerated Performance Coaching Inc., and The Real Estate Game®, strives to maintain an atmosphere of community, connection, and harmony by becoming your resource base to enhance and enrich your personal and business life. Coach Patti was voted one of the ‘Top 50 Most Influential Women In Real Estate Leadership in 2008’ by the 2008 edition of the Swanepoel Trends Report. www.CoachPatti.com and www.TheRealEstateGame.com.
