Hands Off Management

How To Get Out of the Way of Your Employees 

Delegate and add hours to your week, to your life and to your free time. When you first set up your business, you probably wore many hats – Managing Director, Marketing Manager, Sales Manager, IT guru, CFO, PA, Cleaner. “Get it done right – do it yourself” was your mantra.  

As with most small business owners, you probably wish that there were more hours in a week. Well there are more hours in week—and they're all around you. They are your support team – your employees. Moreover, they're dying to make your life easier and to build their own skills, at the same time. Why? Because any employee worth their salt knows that their role, first and foremost, is to make you look good!

Frank Sinatra School of Management

Not only does practicing “hands off “ management free up your time, but just as importantly, delegating to staff can breathe new life into your company. Most small business operators have fallen into the Frank Sinatra management style: “I Did It My Way”. When asked why, you probably respond "Because it's the best way." Well, it is certainly one way, but it may not be the best way. Your employees may have a better way—a way to allow your business to grow faster, bigger and become more profitable.

Three Steps to Getting More Out of Your Business Day

Step One: Believe

Understand, and truly believe, that others can perform some of your duties as well or better than you can.
Loosening the strings doesn't diminish your importance; it increases it.
Remind yourself that, with only so many hours in a day or week, you are limited by those hours.

Step Two: Hands-Off

Start to practice hands-off management.
Every day, give your employees more tasks and responsibilities.
Tell them how you do it, why you do it, let them know you’re happy for them to experiment with different ways.

Step Three. Let them go

Not always easy, but you learned by your mistakes. That’s why you’re the boss. So, let them know:

You expect and respect failure.
That you believe in them.
If they fall, you’re there to help.
Your Exit Strategy

You must spend more of your time on the grand vision of where the business is going, and what and when you get out of it. 82% of Australian small business owners surveyed stated that they spend 20% of their time planning, and 80% in the business. Business analysts believe that to succeed, business owners need to reverse this trend. Spend 80%on the vision; 20% on the doing. When you retire, don't let your business retire with you. Build it now so it lasts for generations. Begin by practicing hands-off management; get out of the way of your employees.

Based on an article by Rod Walsh and Dan Carrison, “Hands Off Management”, entrepreneur.com
 
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