When in Doubt, Delegate
I used to have a sticker posted right above my desktop monitor that said, “when in doubt, delegate.” When I first bought it from the bookstore, I thought it was amusing. As I spent more years working as a salesman, I found the adage very useful. Today, with a wealth of experience tucked under my belt, I can confidently say that I now know how and when to apply this better. Let me share with you some of my thoughts on delegating tasks when uncertainties arise.
It’s okay to be a perfectionist, for as long as you don’t get obsessed by it. Nothing and no one should ever claim perfection. The world doesn’t stop revolving for anyone, so those who think they already know everything will only end up being left behind. We should always be hungry to know and learn more. That’s why it’s always better to admit what you don’t know when the opportunity comes up. Ironically, admitting you don’t know everything will help build a respectable reputation for you in the long run.
The same is true with your company. Your customers will appreciate you more if you show them that you’re constantly looking for ways to improve your products and your service. You are always available for inquiries; and at the same time, you’re also consistently asking for consumer feedback. This gives people the impression that you’re sincere in what you do, wanting nothing but what works best for everyone. In a way, you’re delegating some of the task entailed in product development to your customers.
It may sound overwhelming, especially if you consider the fast pace of communication these days. You throw one significant question online, and you get lots of answers from all over the world within an hour. It’s really amazing how this application development works in making online interactions possible in real time. If your company has not fully integrated this into your system, try to consult IT specialists on how you can use this to your business’ advantage.
With the emergence of cloud computing, the task of having to synchronize business processes has become much easier. You can delegate the task of monitoring your inventory or billing your clients as scheduled, regardless of time zones, to cloud computing IT experts. You may even have to do it yourself for free, depending on the extent of work you require online.
The important thing is for you to know what, when and how to delegate specific tasks. Knowing who to assign for a certain task is also essential. If you apply proper delegation into your system, then you can expect more productivity and efficiency in the workplace. Needless to say, it would be a lot easier for you to maintain your good business reputation just because you know how to delegate responsibilities.