Beverley East, Contributor

Sharon Baker, an administrator who ensures that everything is in place for the business and staff alike. She works at Nepaul and Sons Hardware, at 44 Rose Street, Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland. - Photo by Noel Thompson

How many times have you felt overwhelmed that you just want to scream? Juggling so many balls that one slips and you could, without a doubt, drop any of the many projects you are working on. This would indeed create internal or external turmoil and damage to yourself and others.

When we talk of delegating, our thoughts mainly turn to work, and yet all areas of your life, both personal and professional, can benefit from delegating. You can delegate numerous tasks and responsibilities, ranging from hiring someone to do your paperwork, to asking your children to help with household chores, to using a computer to automate certain processes.

I'm often asked if I ever sleep with all my irons in the fire? Yes, and quiet well too.

I've learnt over the years to delegate most of my projects to a team of competent persons whom I trust.

I know already what you are thinking. Delegate! But how can I do that? No one is going to do it as well as I can. But if you continue to believe that, of course you will always be overwhelmed, anxious, tired and never working at your best.

Delegation comes with a level of trust. If you are in a managerial position and have hired people, ask yourself why did I choose these people to work with me in the first place?

Often people are hired for the wrong reasons. Managers have a team of people whose egos need to be fed. Yes, I said it. Some managers surround themselves with people who don't pose a threat to them. People who will always be in awe of them, stroke their egos and make them feel good. This manner of thinking cannot help you progress in the direction you want your career to move. I'm sure many of us have worked around such persons.

Training your staff is crucial; trusting your staff is essential. If you trained your staff properly in the first place and gave the right information, why shouldn't they be able do the job you have given them to do? As an individual, you cannot grow if you don't let go of certain responsibilities. If you continue to micro-manage your staff and every aspect of their work, you become stagnant.

Training is essential

Your staff will work best when they have the required information, and when they are trained on a regular basis. The bigger your company, the more often training should occur in small groups so that the shy and quiet members of your team don't get looked over. Training is essential as the company grows, and the product changes and, if you have a high turnover of staff. Many companies/organisations do not give training the priority it needs, therefore, staff are representing the company and working on projects they have no idea what they are doing then get blamed when things go wrong. Training is an investment that every company cannot afford not to invest in.

You have to be able to trust the decisions that your staff make so it builds their level of confidence and their commitment to the work they are doing. The 'A' team with which I am so fortunate to be surrounded, often makes decisions without me. With three offices in three countries, of course I can only be in one place at a time. But the team I have enable me to move through the world with much ease. I trust them and their ability to use their initiative and their individual creative spirit.

You must also delegate in your personal life. Get your spouse and yes, your children, involved. As much as we love them dearly we don't have to be supermum or dad to them 24/7. Everyone is capable of doing something. It's called division of labour. Yes, especially women, we are guilty of trying to do everything. You know what happened to the strong black woman? Yes, she died of over work, hypertension, underpayment and she was underloved. So stop that now.

Often I call companies to speak to someone and the person's secretary doesn't know where you are? Why not? That is just basic information. She doesn't need to know your every move, but she needs to know at least when you are returning. He/she needs to know how they can reach you in an emergency. So they can forward an important call to you.

I have experienced managers who hoard basic information from their team, thinking that they don't need to know certain aspects of a project as it's developing. The more information your team has the better it can act on your behalf. Everything doesn't have to come through you.

Although you may think you are the powerful, almighty one, you are actually making yourself and your team powerless. So delegate.

Advantages

You'll have more time and energy for the most important things.

You'll have less to do, less clutter and less pressure.

You'll be supported by responsible people working together.

You'll benefit from others' experience, wisdom, thoughts and perspectives.

The people you spend time with will feel more confident and increase their skills.

You'll demonstrate to others your professionalism and effectiveness.

You'll get tasks done rather than adding them to your to-do list.

You'll achieve your results in less time.

You'll create a win-win situation.

So as we approach the end of the year. Begin to look at how you can shift gear and allow your staff to do more, which will free up your time to develop, plan organise other areas of your company so you can be more successful. Give someone else that project that has been sitting in your in-box that you never have the time to complete.

Try it with trust, training and information. Because if you don't you won't grow and that would be a terrible shame. Delegation is freedom.

I welcome your emails at writefully_yours@hotmail.com