“You have no idea how many hats I wear.” That statement has somehow become a badge of honor for many entrepreneurs and leaders. We love to brag about how much we have to do and how long our to-do lists are. If we’re not patting ourselves on the back for wearing those hats, we’re complaining about how much work it’s taking us to fill all of these roles in our business. Either way, we all have a story ready about how busy we are.
Time for the reality check: You’re about to get crushed by the weight of all those hats.
There’s no extra credit for trying to do it all. At some point, the realization will hit you that wearing all those hats is keeping you from really excelling in your sweet spot. No matter your role, either as an entrepreneur or leading a team, you’re going to need to shed some hats. If you don’t, you’re going to start falling into the traps of “good enough” work, missing deadlines, and dropping balls.
The secret is something I’ve had to force myself to learn: delegation. I’ve always struggled with delegation, and it’s a practice I’ve have had to be very intentional about adding to my workflow. Fortunately, my business partners have helped me create the habit of continually asking myself, “What could I be delegating today?” and “Is this the best use of my time?”
I know what you’re thinking, and all the excuses you have for not delegating.
I’ve used them all. They range from thinking it’s faster to just do it yourself to thinking you’re the only one smart enough to know the right way to get it done. You’re telling yourself you don’t have time to explain a project to someone else, and you’ve convinced yourself you don’t have the money to pay someone else to help wear some of your hats. I’m here to tell you from personal experience that until you shed the excuses, and some of the hats, you’re going to impede your growth and stay stuck. “I can’t afford to,” needs to become “I can’t afford not to.”
How has delegation changed my own work? When I actually do it, it’s allowed me to spend more time working in my sweet spot. Consider the 80/20 Rule. 20 percent of your activities account for 80 percent of your results. If that’s the case, and I believe it is, then making sure you’re accomplishing the most important 20 percent is key to your success. You can’t do that if 80 percent of your day is spent wearing hats that aren’t creating results.
The Takeaway
Ditch some of those extra hats. Pick the ones that fit you and your talents the best, and pass the others onto people who they will fit better.
