Being a little scared during Halloween festivities is part of what makes this spooky holiday so fun. However, when it comes to business, fear shouldn’t be a part of the equation!
No one wants to admit that fear holds them back in real estate success, but if we really think; it oftentimes does. In fact, fear can be the biggest reason we are overworked and stressed out!
Now, you may be wondering what the correlation is between fear and having too much on your plate. The answer? Delegating.
Delegating your work to others can be scary, especially for those who like to have things done a certain way or who like to be in control of every detail of your business! But, trying to do everything yourself is the fastest way to feeling stressed, overwhelmed and overworked.
Sound familiar? Read on!
In a recent study for Harvard Business Review, Jordan Cohen (productivity expert at PA Consulting Group based out of London) and Julian Birkinshaw (professor of strategy and entrepreneurship at London Business School) interviewed top executives at 39 companies across Europe and the US and concluded that 41% of their daily tasks could be done by others.
"We've been socialized with the idea that completing a task is an accomplishment," says Cohen. "But in today's business world, an entrepreneur's time can be better served by doing the tasks that matter most to the success of their business and delegating the rest."
Below are three steps Cohen points out for helping you become a better delegator.
1. Put outsourcing infrastructure in place before it's needed. It’s easy to recognize your need for delegating when you’re swamped or in a huge time crunch. Cohen suggests that, instead of making decisions under stress, research good alternatives for delegating or outsourcing before you need them. For example, train staff members to take over new tasks, or find and interview consultants that you can call upon when needed.
2. Put delegating on your calendar. Look at your calendar and think critically about tasks that can be delegated.
"What tasks do you have to do yourself and what could you have others do?" asks Cohen. Tasks that have low value for your customers and are time-consuming are ideal tasks to outsource.
"You are in the best position to determine what you have to do," says Cohen. "Use good judgment, but don't get caught up in a way of working that isn’t productive."
3. Test the waters. Because you’ve chosen to research options and take the time necessary to set up a good process for delegating, you can start small. Cohen suggests starting with something that isn't complex or urgent. Instead, experiment with low importance things. "Things rarely work perfectly the first time," he says. "The idea is to get comfortable with delegating. It takes practice, but it gets easier over time."
Although delegating may seem scary at first; it can really be one of the best things for your business!
Ready to get started? As Real Estate Virtual Assistants, our job is to make your job easier. The best part is that we’re trained specifically with real estate and have years of experience handling a variety of tasks such as social media, listing marketing, print materials, blogging and more for our clients!
Contact us today to see what we can do for you!
Allie Coyle
Blogging & Copywriting Specialist
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