Truly letting go of your business can be tough, but rapidly changing workplace environments have created the need for a more hands-off approach. This is not always easy. If you started your business to share your expert knowledge, chances are you’re passionate about making a difference. In many ways, it’s more than just business. It’s personal. So it can be especially difficult to let go.
Flexible work arrangements have the potential to promote more autonomy than your team has ever had before. Delegating well in these new situations is integral to your business success moving forward. Having things set up like clockwork will allow your staff to pick up the slack, and advance your business at the same time. Imagine being able to put it all down, even if just for a little while. You would have time and headspace to invest in other priorities like more enriched relationships, improved health, and closer connections with your family and community.
“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure“ Oprah Winfrey
Relying on others is key to succeeding in the business world of the future. Interestingly, before the crisis, surveys repeatedly showed that 80% of employees wanted to work from home, at least some of the time. Over a third would have taken a pay cut in exchange for that option. This shows that your employees want the freedom to work this way. They want more flexibility.
When you think about it, one of the reasons you probably started your business was to have more freedom in the choices you make with your time. Your employees also want that. Being able to send them home and have them working even better than before is vital for really letting go of your business.
So here are a few tips for letting go. How do give everyone just a little bit more flexibility, while continuing to invest in your business?
CENTRALISE & ORGANISE RESOURCES:
With people working in different locations, they must know where equipment and resources are located. This means bringing everything into the cloud and organising it all. No duplicates. No mess. And no confusion or stress when people are looking for things. This is essential to you letting go and allowing your remote team to perform with excellence.
CREATE A SECURE WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Safety at work means emotional and psychological security, as well as technological security. Make sure your staff are cared for with access to support if and when they need it. Have regular check-ins so you keep your finger on the pulse socially. Make sure passwords and networks are secure. Create safe online workspaces to avoid risks to your staff and your business data.
BUILD ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURES:
Accountability is key to successful delegation. When you are confident that you have mechanisms to maintain high standards of performance, you can let go. Touching base regularly, monitoring performance, and offering support are vital. When these guidelines and structures are in place, your team will perform better, with a clearer idea of their goals.
TRUST YOUR STAFF:
Your staff want to do a great job. They want to work well. They want to keep their job, and they want to invest in building a great business. The more you can simply let go and trust your staff, the better. Yes, mistakes will happen, but look at the bright side! Embracing mistakes as essential to learning will allow you all to improve and enjoy the space along the way.
INVEST IN A BIGGER VISION:
When you’re tied to your desk, or tied to the immediate urgent jobs that come up, it can be like you’re wearing blinkers. Your sights will become so set on short term issues you will have no motivation to let go. Sending people to work from home and creating more freedom will free you up to start thinking about the big picture again. This is really at the heart of being able to let go.
