Balance Your Life by Delegating and Outsourcing

When was the last time you thought about how you have been feeling over the past few months?  Year? Few Years? This morning in my yoga class we were asked by the instructor to think about how things have changed this past year.  For me, the word that best describes the year is “enlightenment.”

A year ago, I was feeling overwhelmed and without a purpose or sense of direction.  If you have been following my blogs, in the fall I started writing about “My Passion Revisited.”  I was swamped, but not on things that brought me joy or moved me forward. So, I spent this past year defining what needs to change and how I can make that happen, so I feel lighter, happier and have balance into my life.  This morning’s question was the perfect opportunity to reflect on where I was at and where I am now which amazed me in how different I am feeling.

Let me ask you – How are you doing?  Are you constantly tired? Do the piles of work seem never-ending?  Are you feeling too busy? Or busy on things that don’t interest you, bring you energy nor benefit your life?

If so, you’ll find that it is time for some serious changes in how you work.  Like me, you need balance in your life! I’m going to offer you a suggestion that I encourage the leaders I work with to consider.  

Enlist the help of others

More and more people understand the value of delegating some of their responsibilities, but can we actually outsource our responsibilities? Of course!

“If you want to do a few small things right, do them yourself. If you want to do great things and make a big impact, learn to delegate.”– John C. Maxwell

What Is Outsourcing?

The term outsourcing is a big buzzword in today’s world. Essentially it means to hire someone to do specific tasks so you, the business owner, employee, or homeowner, can have more time to focus on the crucial aspects of your work and life.

For example, if you’re running your own business, outsourcing allows you to spend more time on money-making tasks. If you’re an employee, outsourcing may give you more time to get the critical jobs done so you can spend more time at home. Or if you’re a homeowner, outsourcing frees up your time from repetitive or mundane tasks like cutting the grass or doing home repair research.

When you first think about delegation and outsourcing, you might initially balk at it, especially if you don’t run your own business.  If you’ve put a lot of effort in your home or job, you may be leery of the idea of handing it over to someone else, but the benefits are too great to ignore.

I know it can be difficult.  I struggle with finding the right person for the right job and then ensuring there are sufficient communication and accountability in place.  I first get clear on what I want to be done. I then define the outcome and what I expect. I develop a detailed job description or task list.  Then, I establish accountability measures are in place. For example, a written weekly report, quick texts and regular face to face discussion in person or virtually.

I have learned two important things:

1.  Communication is key. It needs to be clear, concise and easy to understand.
2.  Do not assume the skill is there because they say it is.  I use to trust people when they told me they were experts in an area and were grateful for it because I wasn’t.  So, I let them run with the job and paid them well for it. Too often I was disappointed by what was produced which was as much on me as it was on them.  I now ensure they can do what I was asking. I start slow – baby steps. I give one task and follow up frequently with feedback until they demonstrate their capability to meet my needs.

Benefits of Outsourcing or Delegating in Your Business

Focus on the things that matter most to you. Let others worry about client service or fulfillment. Let others tackle the technical issues or tame your email inbox. When you focus on what matters most to you, you’ll be able to get more done.

Focus on what you love to do. If website design and technical issues bore you to death, outsource those activities to people who enjoy doing that type of work. Doing what you love yields better quality of work and life.

Spend more time with your family. You will be free to enjoy more time with your spouse and kids. Instead of trying to solve all problems at work, you’ll be able to rest easy because another capable person is taking care of it for you.

Save money by hiring experts, and make sure they can produce what you need. Someone who has vast experience will be able to work more quickly and efficiently than you, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the task.

Remember: when you outsource or delegate your responsibilities, you’re effectively buying back your time.

Outsourcing and Delegating at Home

If you’re still wondering how you can outsource or delegate at home, it’s easier than you think.

You can delegate chores to each family member. Not only will the work get done quicker, but you’ll be teaching your children a valuable life lesson about teamwork. Need some other ideas? How about the following:

Hire a landscaper to cut your grass and keep your yard clear of leaves and sticks. Unless this type of work relaxes you, hiring a professional will allow you more time to have fun with your family.

Hire a house cleaner. As children get older with both parents working, less and less family time is available. Why spend your free time cleaning all weekend? Let a professional do the work in half the time.

Hire an accountant to sort through your personal tax information – Yes, please!  Reduce your stress by letting a professional figure out which paperwork to fill out and what deductions you qualify for.  In the end, it could save you time and real money!.

Hire a grocery shopper or use an online grocery service.  I wish the service were available when my children were young.   It is a terrific time saver. You can add groceries to your online list throughout the week, push a button, set the time you want to pick them up and voila, your work is done until you get them home. You may even get them delivered!   If it’s not available in your area, you can always hire a responsible neighbor to do the shopping for you.

Hire a neighborhood teen or, better yet, enlist your children to do chores that can help you to free up quality time to spend with them.  They can rake leaves, shovel snow, and help with house cleaning.

There may be financial decisions you have to make before you decide if the idea of outsourcing and delegating is right for you.  Make sure that you consider the pros and cons, but if you need to do it, there is no reason to wait! You’ll get more done, and you’ll lead a more balanced and healthy life!

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