Are you at the place in your business where you’re burning the candle at both ends? Are you the person who is also responsible for being the point person for your clients and customers? If you answered yes to both of the above and are bringing in a sufficient amount of revenue, it may be time to add to your team. You can do this by:
- Outsourcing to a virtual services company
- Working with a freelancer on a project basis
- Hiring an employee (part-time or full-time)
You’ve now made a decision and are utilizing one of the resources we just mentioned above. Now, you will need to adjust internally to make it work. There are usually two hurdles to overcome:
Learning How to Delegate
When you’re the person who does it all and does it well, you need to begin to trust others to take on a chunk of tasks to focus on what you’re good at and enjoy doing. This change can be very tough and requires patience on your part. For each repetitive task, you’ve most likely developed a system for doing it. Put that system in writing to help someone else follow it. This way, once you train someone else, they have something to refer back to if they get stuck.
No one can do it all, and if you’re overwhelmed, something will end up suffering, such as:
- Quality of work
- Family time
- Your health
Pat yourself on the back because being this busy usually means you have done a great job of growing your business. That is if you’re working smart and remaining organized.
Getting Your Clients Acclimated to Other People
The second challenge is letting your clients know you’re growing and that you are building a team. In most cases, you’re the front person and prime point of contact. As you expand your business, and in an effort to establish some “time off,” it’s a good idea to allow your clients to get to know the new person/company you’re working with ahead of time. You can still be the front person, but what happens if you cannot be there. It’s not fair to either person to have them “meet” during an emergency. Give them time, by starting small, to get to know each other.
Your clients have built a relationship with you and feel attached, but will understand that you’re a growing business and will adjust as long as they know you’re still overseeing the bigger picture.
No matter the type of additional help you bring on, you do not need to outline the agreement you have with that individual(s). Refer to those that work with you, in any capacity, as your team (i.e., to your client, “It’s a team effort.”) For instance, and if you outsource, you do not need to tell your clients you sub-contract. Their priority is that you ensure the work is to the high-standard they are accustomed to receiving. Note: If you sub-contract, make sure you have a confidentiality/independent contract in place.
Now, roll up your sleeves and get ready to grow your business.