Ready to grow? It’s time to delegate!
If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably hit that point where juggling tasks starts feeling like a balancing act.
As your business grows, one thing becomes clear: you can’t do everything yourself. But handing over control? Now, that’s a whole different challenge.
In my experience, businesses grow faster when owners get better at delegating. And I’m not talking about simply passing on tasks—you need to have a clear, organised way of doing things so that delegation is effective and doesn’t lead to confusion or inconsistency. The key is creating an environment where you can trust your team to take the reins without the fear that things will fall apart.
The Reluctance to Delegate
It’s natural to feel reluctant about delegating. After all, most small businesses are built on the unique way the owner does things. Gino Wickman talks about this in his book Traction, calling it “letting go of the vine.” It’s that critical moment when business owners realise they can’t continue doing it all. Clinging to that vine—holding on to every task, every decision—can keep a business stuck, unable to move to the next level. Letting go is a leap of faith, but one that’s necessary for growth.
If you’re trying to hand off tasks without a clear process, though, it feels like you’re just passing chaos to someone else. No wonder many business owners struggle with letting go. The solution? Organisation.
The Role of Ego in Delegation
Another factor that can get in the way of delegation—and something I’ve seen time and time again—is the owner-manager’s ego. This isn’t about arrogance, but rather the natural tendency to believe that no one knows the business better than you. And in many ways, that’s true. You built it from the ground up; of course you know it inside and out.
But here’s the catch: surrounding yourself with people who are better than you at certain things is essential for growth. Delegating to experts allows your business to benefit from their knowledge, skills, and fresh perspectives. The challenge is in not letting ego push you into micromanaging those people. The best leaders empower their teams, allowing them to thrive without assuming they know better at every turn.
Growth often requires a shift in mindset. It’s not about knowing everything yourself, but about trusting the people you’ve hired to take your business to the next level. When you embrace that, delegation becomes a powerful tool for scaling up.
Organisation Unlocks Delegation—and Growth
The more organised your business is, the easier it becomes to delegate. It’s not just about freeing up your time; it’s about giving your team the tools they need to succeed. When you create clear, simple processes for how things should be done, your team knows exactly what’s expected. Delegation becomes a way to empower them, not overwhelm them.
When I first started my own business, I was working alone in a spare bedroom with just one client. Even then, I set up job numbers and a filing system—for the team I hoped would be working with me in the years to come. I certainly didn’t do everything perfectly, but having those systems in place made the transition smoother when it came time to grow. It wasn’t about doing everything right from the start, but about laying the groundwork for future success.
Think of it like this: teaching someone to follow a clear, documented process is far easier than expecting them to figure out the way you have always done things. With a solid foundation, you can hand off tasks confidently and focus on higher-level strategies that push your business forward.
Navigating Crisis Points
In studies of small business growth by Scott and Bruce (1987) and frameworks like the Greiner Model (1978), businesses inevitably face critical moments as they expand. Greiner’s model identifies the Crisis of Control—a point where delegation becomes essential to keep the business moving forward without descending into chaos. But, if you’ve invested in people and organised your processes well, these crisis points become more manageable, smoothing the path to the next phase of growth.
3 Quick Wins to Start Delegating Effectively
If you’re looking to scale your business and lighten your load, here are three easy ways to start:
Document Your Processes: Get everything out of your head and onto paper (or screen). Create simple SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for key tasks.
Start Small: Don’t overwhelm your team—or yourself—by delegating everything at once. Start with smaller tasks and gradually build up to bigger ones.
Invest in Your Team: Delegation works best when your team is capable and confident. Invest in their development, so they’re ready to take on more responsibility.
Moving Forward
In many ways, growth is about letting go. If you want your business to move forward, you need to delegate, and you need to be organised to do it well. The businesses that succeed are the ones that create an environment where people can thrive because the systems are in place—and where the owner steps back to let those systems work.
If you’re at that stage where you’re ready to grow but unsure how to manage the transition, let’s chat. I’m always happy to share insights and help small businesses unlock their full potential.
