Operations Management for Trades Businesses

Delegate Like a Pro: Stop Doing Everything Yourself

Written by Chad DeAbreu | Jul 26, 2025 1:45:05 PM

There’s a myth in the workplace that doing everything yourself makes you a superhero. It doesn’t. It makes you tired, stressed, and stuck.

That's why you need to delegate.

Delegation isn’t laziness—it’s a power move. When you delegate effectively, you free up your time, brainpower, and energy to focus on the work that truly matters.

Let’s dive into why delegation is the key to unlocking efficiency, profitability, and growth—and how you can master it.

Why Delegation is a Game-Changer for Small Businesses

There’s no task so difficult that it can’t be delegated with the right prep work. Yep, you read that right—any task. Proper training, coaching, and clear instructions make even complex tasks manageable for someone else.

Delegation is your secret weapon for:

  • More bandwidth: Freeing up your time to focus on the bigger picture.

  • Better results: Tackling higher-level, strategic challenges instead of getting bogged down in the weeds.

  • Growth: For you, your team, and your business.

The real power of delegation isn’t just in offloading tasks—it’s in levelling up your thinking. Instead of spending your day putting out fires, you can start solving the bigger problems that make a real difference.

When Delegation Fails, it’s (Usually) your Fault.

Ever delegated something only to have it come back a hot mess? Before you point fingers, take a hard look at how you set it up. Here’s the deal:

If someone doesn’t get it right the first time, it’s on you. Maybe you didn’t explain it clearly, didn’t train them properly, or didn’t provide the tools they needed to succeed.

This isn’t a failure—it’s a learning opportunity. Ask yourself:

  • Did I explain what “done right” looks like?
  • Did I provide enough context for them to understand the task?
  • Did I offer guidance or training upfront?

The better you get at delegating, the more you’ll be able to offload confidently—and the more your team will thrive.

Breaking the “Do-It-All” Mindset

There’s a strange badge of honour people wear for “doing it all.” They think grinding through every task themselves proves their worth. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.

This mindset doesn’t just hurt you—it holds back your entire team or business. Small Business Growth isn’t about doing everything; it’s about doing what matters most. Delegation lets you:

  • Be productive, not busy.
  • Empower your team to step up and grow.
  • Scale your efforts for bigger results.

Delegation isn’t shirking responsibility—it’s owning your time like a boss.

Delegation’s Tricky Bits (and How to Nail Them)

Some tasks feel impossible to delegate, but trust us, they’re not. Here are a few common challenges and how to tackle them:

  1. Tasks with multiple steps and stakeholders

    • Solution: Break them into smaller parts and assign clear roles for each step.

  2. Tasks requiring specific knowledge only you have

    • Solution: Share that knowledge. Record a walkthrough or document the process to get others up to speed.

  3. Tasks needing a high level of skill

    • Solution: Train up your team or outsource to someone with the expertise. Delegation is also about investing in others’ growth.

The Bottom Line: Delegation is required for Small Business Growth

Delegation isn’t about giving away work you don’t want to do—it’s about clearing your plate for what you’re truly good at. It’s about empowering your team to step up and keeping your business moving forward.

So, stop holding onto tasks like a security blanket—train, coach, and delegate. Your business (and sanity) will thank you.