Delegation is the key to being a good leader. A leader's most challenging transition is from doing to leading. This can be a difficult place for some business owners. You have to turn over a part of your business to someone else and trust that everything will be alright. I know its not easy, and we both know delegation is neccessary for growing businesses. In this article, you will learn how to delegate so that you can manage your team efficiently and avoid costly mistakes.

Step One: Think ahead. The more time you give to complete a task, the better. More time gives you more options to get the work done correctly or make changes for the best possible results.

Step Two: Decide what is important to you. In other words, begin with the end in mind. Make a list of all the work required and decide what tasks you must perform and what tasks can be delegated to your virtual assistant.

Step Three: Prioritize the work before you hand it off. Know what needs to be done immediately and what can wait. It would be best if you communicated the expected duration for each assignment so that you and your agent will be on the same page.

Step Four: Consider the obstacles your agent may face in completing the assignment and discuss this with them. For example, while making phone calls, several things can happen if the person doesn't answer when you call.

The virtual assistant can:

1. Make a return call.
2. Send a text.
3. Leave a message.
4. Send an email.

Don't presume that the agent will think as you do. Explain the goal you have in mind to prepare the VA to handle any obstacles. Make sure you explain it and ask them to repeat the request back to you if needed.

Step Five: Be prepared to answer questions, make decisions, or add more clarity if needed. You and your virtual assistant are partners. They need to know when and how to reach you if they need clarity about an assignment.

Step Six: Discuss how often you want to receive feedback on the work and which mechanism to use. Some clients prefer a quick email at the end of the day; others use project management platforms like Trello.

More often, the problem with delegating can be tied back to a lack of trust. Often we tell ourselves that we can get the work done faster if we do it ourselves. While that may be true in the short term, the extra stress it adds to our busy day hardly makes doing the work ourselves the better option.

Make a list of important tasks each day. Decide what you need to do and what you can assign to your virtual assistant. Soon you'll see the benefit of entrusting work to your virtual assistant on a regular basis. Learning to delegate like a boss will allow you to turn your attention to the activities that actually help to grow your business.