As a marketing strategist and online community builder, I’ve always prided myself on my ability to get things done. But when it came to delegation, I hit a wall. Sound familiar?

In our latest episode of The Business You Really Want, co-host Gwen Bortner and I tackle this common entrepreneurial challenge head-on. Today, I want to share my past failures with delegation and the insights I’ve gained along the way.

The Myth of the Perfect VA

I’ll never forget the day I complained to Gwen about my “perfect” VA who just couldn’t seem to become my right hand in business. Gwen pressed me on my effectiveness as a leader. Ouch.

The truth is, I was falling into a common trap: expecting mind-readers at every price point. I’d give instructions thinking, “I don’t care how you do it, I just want it done,” only to be frustrated when the result was the bizarro world version of what I wanted.

The Breakthrough: Understanding True Delegation

Working with Gwen, I’ve learned that true delegation is more than the single act of handing off task. It’s about transferring responsibility.

What delegation actually looks like in practice

1. Understand the task yourself
2. Train in stages, checking for understanding
3. Hand over full responsibility
4. Hold accountable, allowing for problem-solving

The key? Recognizing that different doesn’t mean wrong. As Gwen pointed out, “There’s lots of right answers, and your right answer may not be the only right answer.”

In my case, I was dropping the ball somewhere between Step 2 and 3. I’m a highly effective trainer, frequently praised by team members for how well I transfer knowledge. What I wasn’t good at, however, was empowering remote workers to be successful —I failed to tell them on the front end that self-sufficiency was the goal. When I handed over full responsibility, they struggled to own the role and graduate from task-level mastery to ownership.

Overcoming the Fear of Letting Go

Gwen’s clients, on the other hand, usually struggle with the fear that no one can do things quite like them. Sound familiar? Here’s our advice to overcome this:

1. Approach with curiosity. Instead of assuming the worst, ask “Why did you choose to do it that way?”
2. Allow for learning. Sometimes, letting someone try their way (even if it doesn’t work) leads to faster learning than simply telling them what to do.
3. Focus on outcomes: As long as the end result meets the standard, the exact method matters less than you might think.

The ROI of True Delegation

Embracing these principles can transform your business and your satisfaction as a business owner. Personally, the subtle changes I’ve made in my own own approach to delegation have led to major results. When you delegate effectively, you will then be able to:

• Spend more time focused on high-level strategy
• Experience a team that brings their best ideas to the table (you now have thought partners)
• Scale your business without burning out

The Bottom Line

If you’re struggling with delegation, know that you’re not alone. It’s a skill that takes time and practice to master. But the payoff — a business that runs smoothly even when you’re not babysitting every detail —i s well worth the effort.

Ready to learn more about mastering the art of delegation?

Listen to our full podcast episode for more insights and actionable strategies. And remember, the business you really want is within reach — it just might require letting go to grow.

You can listen on Apple and Spotify, or watch on YouTube.