The Secret to Effective Delegation
- Katy Peters
- Jul 21
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 26
Delegation is an oddly intimidating concept to many of us and I’m no exception – it can often feel overwhelming and more stressful than just keeping hold of the task and completing it yourself. But here’s the truth: effective delegation isn’t just about handing over a task. It’s also about trusting the process and, more importantly, the partnership. When you get it right, it’s utter magic; You regain time, your stress levels drop and you find yourself wondering why you ever though that doing it yourself was a good idea.
Let me share with you my journey, so you can dodge the pitfalls and unlock the secret to effective delegation.
Why Are We So Reluctant to Delegate?
Let’s be honest, you’re self-employed and running your own business because you care about your craft, the quality you deliver and the way things get done. We all have our own way of doing things and the idea of handing that over to someone else feels like giving away a secret recipe.
I get it because I’ve been there and I was rubbish at it! For me, the biggest problem wasn’t the delegating itself - it was not being totally transparent about what I expected as the outcome. I’d hand over a task with a vague, “Please could you take that task away from me,’ and then I’d sit there, stewing in disappointment when it wasn’t quite right and probably making my colleague feel pretty inadequate in the process. The problem? I hadn’t communicated exactly what “right” looked like.
Maybe you’re the same. Do any of these sound like you?
You don’t delegate because:
You fear it won’t be done your way.
You’re worried about losing control or oversight.
You think it will be quicker to do it yourself than explain it to someone else.
You’re concerned about quality slipping through the cracks.
And the irony? This reluctance often leads to burnout, overwhelm and less time spent on what truly matters for your business - the big picture and the bit you love.
The Turning Point: From Reluctance to Trust
It’s not really a great secret because there are plenty of people who do it well but delegation works when you stop expecting perfect right away and start building trust through clear communication and patience.
When I started my first role in a senior position, I had to learn this the hard way. I’d give a task, wait impatiently, then get annoyed when the results weren’t what I imagined. But the reality was, I hadn’t shared enough detail or context to help my colleague understand exactly what I wanted.
Once I began treating delegation like a partnership, where I took time to clearly outline the goal, share an example that I’d crafted, gave them a context and then took a step back, then and only then, did everything change.
It wasn’t perfect immediately and I still had numerous tweaks to make to my practice and I went through many more learning curves. However, with a greater transparency in my communication and learning to trust my abilities to make my expectations clear, the outcomes improved. My stress eased and, do you want to know the real kicker? I realised that my way wasn’t the only way and other approaches brought fresh ideas and improvements.
How to Delegate Effectively - The Steps That Work
If any of this sounds like you, here’s a simple ‘recipe’ that you could follow to see if it starts to ease up the demands on your time:
1. Be Clear About the Outcome
Don’t just say, “Sort out the branding.” Instead, say, “I need a brand style guide that includes logo usage, colours, fonts, and tone of voice. Here’s an example of what I like.”
2. Share the ‘Why’
People work best when they understand the reason behind what they’ve been asked to do, so explain why this task matters and how it fits into the bigger picture.
3. Break It Down
If the task has multiple steps, break it down. It reduces overwhelm and makes it much easier to track progress.
4. Set Realistic Deadlines
Agree on deadlines that allow time to produce a quality piece of work but also builds in time for questions and revisions. If possible, don’t rush it.
5. Keep Communication Open
Encourage questions and give feedback regularly; It’s a two-way street after all.
6. Accept Imperfection at First
Remember, it’s a learning curve for both of you. Focus on progress, not perfection. Perfection doesn’t exist, so don’t waste time trying to find it. Good, is definitely good enough.
The Reward:
Once the partnership clicks, delegation becomes the secret weapon in your business toolkit.
Imagine waking up on a Monday and knowing the following:
You’re not buried in admin emails or document formatting.
Someone you trust is managing your operations seamlessly.
You have time to focus on strategy, innovation and business growth.
Your stress levels have dropped and you’re actually enjoying your work again.
That’s not a fantasy. That’s delegation done right.
If you’re still hesitant, here’s a funny thought: delegating is like letting someone else drive your car. At first, you’re gripping the dashboard, ready to shout, “Slow down!” But if you relax in the company of the driver and start to trust them, you’ll get to your destination more smoothly - and maybe enjoy the ride.
So, give yourself permission to hand over the wheel. Your business (and your sanity) will thank you.
If you're still uncertain of where to start, download this free, 8-step plan to freeing yourself from the many tasks that are currently swamping your desk.
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