Let Your Virtual Assistant Support You: A Look at Common Reasons that Leaders Don’t Delegate
I have worked with Trusty Oak as a Virtual Assistant for over two years, and one of the most common issues that I see our clients struggle with is delegating work to their VA. There are many aspects of being an effective leader, and one of the most important is learning how to effectively delegate tasks to their support staff. It is no mystery that organization leaders and business owners are busy people with endless tasks and responsibilities on their plates, which is why the role of support staff can be so essential to maintain forward momentum while completing the many things that need to get done. Despite this, delegation is not something that comes easily to many people and can often be a struggle when they feel the burden of having too much to do.
At Trusty Oak, we believe that Collaboration Always Wins, and the collaboration between a client and their virtual assistant relies heavily on clear and direct communication, trust, and effective delegation. It can be very frustrating and difficult for a VA to work with a client who doesn’t delegate. There are many reasons why a leader may struggle with delegation, which can be a hindrance to the operation of their organization or business and their relationship with support staff.
Let’s take a look at what can get in the way of effective delegation.
Common Reasons that People Do Not Delegate
“I don’t have the time to delegate.”
This may be the most common reason that leaders give when it comes to delegation. Whether their workload is too large or they believe that they can accomplish it faster themselves, many view it as easier to take on all of these tasks without support. No one can deny that our clients are busy people with a mountain of tasks to complete in a day, but one of our roles as Virtual Assistants is to alleviate the pressure of those tasks.
While it is true that it will take time to delegate tasks and teach support staff how to do them, that is time that will be regained in the weeks to come when a client doesn’t have to trouble themselves with those tasks. Some time set aside for clear and effective delegation can yield large results when it comes to freeing up an already overloaded schedule. Delegation should focus on tasks that are important, but also routine, and that don’t require the expertise of the client to complete.
“Only I know how to do this correctly.”
Our clients are passionate about what they do, and it can be hard for them to trust someone else to manage important tasks in something that they have spent so much time and energy building. While it may seem that doing it all alone is the best strategy, it’s important to remember that a successful organization is rarely run by just one person.
Trusting others to take over essential tasks builds a solid working relationship that sets both parties up for future success and enables the VA to offer support in a more comprehensive way. Effective delegation can be an essential part of growth.
“I’m not sure of the best way to delegate.”
It can be difficult to admit when you don’t know how to do something, and many people simply don’t have enough experience with delegation to immediately do it well. Sometimes, the first step is admitting that there is more for them to learn, and then accepting the help that others are willing to provide. A quick search on the internet will reveal countless resources to help leaders learn to effectively delegate, and Trusty Oak is here to help as well. Trusty Oak is dedicated to the success of their Virtual Assistants and their clients, and that includes offering workshops, blogs, and more to help with important skills like delegation. In the month of June 2024, our own Amber L. Gray and Bex Howell will be conducting three LinkedIn livestream events to discuss topics around delegation. Additionally, professionals working with Trusty Oak are always happy to connect with clients to offer their advice and expertise.
Delegation Helps Others Support You
As a Trusty Oak VA, I have found myself working with clients who are clearly overwhelmed with the amount of work they do, but no matter how I try to communicate to them that I can do much more, they do not take the opportunity to delegate more tasks to me. To a VA, it can be frustrating for a client to tell you that they are “too busy to delegate”, and it creates friction in the relationship between the VA and the client. We are here to support our clients in a variety of ways and tasks, but we can only do that when the client is willing to take the time and effort to effectively delegate.
Effective delegation not only keeps the VA busy and the client freer to take on more important challenges, but it also builds trust within the relationship. When a client trusts the VA to manage important and often routine tasks, it demonstrates their willingness to create a partnership that will be beneficial for both parties. As time passes, more tasks can be delegated to the VA, and the client can focus on bigger and better things for their business.
Effective Delegation Leads to Success
There can be many barriers to effective delegation, but the benefits can be transformational for the future and success of an organization or business. Delegation builds trust between leaders and their support staff, and can be a vital component to growth.
Here are some helpful tips to get you started delegating effectively:
- Delegate work that is important but does not need your particular expertise to complete. Tasks like managing email, scheduling appointments, or logging data are essential to your business,
- Be clear in your delegation–communication is key. Recording a voice memo or a Loom video can help you explain more directly, straightforward written communication such as emails or direct messages in Slack.
- Create clear processes for necessary tasks. If something is continuously needed, it saves time and effort to create SOPs for those tasks so that they can be more easily delegated.
- Check-in and offer feedback. Communication is key, and it’s important to make sure your VA is completing tasks the way you need them to.
Trusty Oak is here to help our clients succeed every step of the way, and effective delegation is an essential part of that success. If you’re ready to start delegating effectively and want more helpful tips on how to do so, sign up for the Delegation Download, a monthly newsletter from Trusty Oak CEO, Amber L. Gray.
Justin is passionate about educating and helping himself and those around him grow and develop. He is interested in finding ways to help those in need through his work. He is looking for opportunities to make the world a better place by supporting those in leadership positions and he views his role with Trusty Oak as an opportunity to experience and learn more about a variety of industries and people.