![](images/2004-JanFeb/green_cfo.jpg)
|
Our mission is to provide information and strategies
to business owners and managers for improvement
in the effectiveness of its business management
so that key objectives can be realized.
|
|
Ted Hofmann
- Principal/Senior Consultant
John Morre - Principal/Senior Consultant
Linda Panichelli - Principal/Senior Tax
Consultant
CFO Plus, LLC
1450 Grant Avenue, Suite 102
Novato, CA 94945-3142 |
Home Office |
: |
415-898-7879 |
Toll
Free |
: |
866-CFO-PLUS
or 866-236-7587 |
Fax |
: |
415-456-9382 |
Email |
: |
thofmann@cfoplus.net
jmorre@cfoplus.net
lpanichelli@cfoplus.net
|
Website |
: |
www.cfoplus.net
|
|
|
![](images/top-green-end.gif) |
|
![](images/arrow-green-up.gif)
![](images/arrow-green-down.gif) |
Every person from every walk
of life has 24 hours in a day to accomplish
all that he or she can. As any successful entrepreneur
or executive will attest, the art of delegation
can dramatically increase productivity at the
most critical level.
While most business owners and executives know
they should spend time in areas that will deliver
maximum return on invested time to business
operations, many of the most well-intentioned
people wind up focusing on what is priority
– not what actually improves profits or productivity.
This syndrome of working “in” your business
rather than working “on” your business is common,
yet there are many ways to proactively take
charge of your time. One is learning to systematically
delegate tasks that can be performed by someone
other than the chief decision maker.
The art of delegation follows these eight steps:
1. |
Eliminate
before you delegate. Some tasks
are not necessary. Before making your
list of tasks to delegate, make a list
of those you can eliminate entirely. For
instance, if you are filing paper documents
that you have electronically filed elsewhere,
and these paper documents are not required
for legal reasons, you may be better off
eliminating this task.
|
2. |
Plan
your delegation. Make a list
of routine tasks that do not gain value
by you performing it. Easy tasks often
stay on busy owner and executive desks
because they are quick and easy to perform.
Systematically delegate to-do items with
your overall schedule in mind. Do not
haphazardly give out tasks without knowing
what you hope to achieve from delegating
these duties.
|
3. |
Set
realistic standards. Not everything
has to be performed 100 percent perfectly.
While your standard may be very high,
consider a lower, yet acceptable standard
for tasks that can be performed by others.
For instance, if you can perform a task
in 15 minutes, but it takes another person
20 minutes to do the same task and the
result is the same, is your time better
spent elsewhere?
|
4. |
Assume
others enjoy responsibility.
Many high-achievers assume that others
do not enjoy taking on added responsibility
or that others simply will not take the
job seriously. In many instances, this
thinking is not true. Look for others
who perform their duties with a similar
work ethic and begin delegating appropriate
tasks.
|
5. |
Set
clear expectations. Once you’ve
identified a person you trust with task(s),
be sure to be clear in your communication
of what your desired outcome is. People
often want to succeed, yet when left to
their own judgment can fall short of your
vision.
|
6. |
Let
freedom ring. While you may have
been doing a task for many years, a fresh
perspective may offer a faster solution
or a new insight on an old issue. Give
those that you delegate to the freedom
to offer solutions that may save your
company time and/or money.
|
7. |
Pay
the price. Invest short-term
time in training to gain a long-term increase
in productivity. While there are associated
opportunity costs related to delegation,
the long-term payoff can significantly
pay you back.
|
8. |
Know
your role. Delegation means that
others will take duties from you to perform,
but it doesn’t mean that they assume full
responsibility without some type of follow-up.
Continue to manage the process at arm’s
length and allow all parties to do their
share of the work. |
When it comes to delegation,
keep your eye on the real prize. The ultimate
goal of delegation is to free up more time for
you to spend on higher level activities that
will, ultimately, add to your bottom line. If
delegation means improving processes to make
it easier for all involved, consider the big
picture before making your final decision. As
performance management professionals, we can
help streamline processes for improved productivity
and profits. Give us a call today to make 2004
your best year yet.
|
|
|