By Association: Delegation Simplifies Your Life

September 30, 2008  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in on October 2008 Business today is far from simple, and a tough economy is the last thing retailers need to add to their list of worries. What can you do when so much of what is happening to your business is out of your control? Delegating to others is one way to simplify your business life.

Many owners take on more responsibility than one person can handle. By wearing so many hats, you might be doing your business and employees a disservice. Delegating some daily tasks to your employees will help them grow and allow you to focus more attention on other aspects of your business.

Industry consultant Joe Milvesky, owner of JRM Sales and Manage-ment Inc., says that some owners feel like they have to micro-manage their employees because they do not have the tools in place to measure their staff’s productivity. “Many owners don’t know how to delegate, so they end up micro-managing to avoid the feeling of losing control,” he said. “When they aren’t managing it, then they don’t know if it is happening. But it all goes back to productivity; if you don’t measure, you can’t delegate.”

By including measurements to track your employees’ productivity, you will feel more at ease in delegating important tasks to them. Create individual goals for each employee and track their progress towards each goal. Allow each employee to “own” their delegated tasks—pride in ownership is a great motivator for employees, and you may be surprised at the ideas your employees come up with.

Another thing to keep in mind during tough times is that while you cannot control what is going on in the outside world, you can control your own attitude. Come into work every day with a positive attitude and a smile. By having a positive attitude and a smile, you will automatically feel better about any negative business situation, and you will make your customers and employees feel more confident in you and your business.

During tough times, it is also important to turn to others in our industry for support and help with difficult situations. Our industry retail associations are made up of owners and managers facing the same problems you encounter and who understand what you are going through. Western Home Furnishings Association (WHFA) offers members an online meeting place to discuss their business issues with industry peers. Share your thoughts and concerns with other retailers and give your advice to the many folks that would be grateful for a helping hand on WHFA’s online message boards at whfa.org. It’s a great way to gather important new ideas and to develop long-lasting relationships. WHFA’s job is to stay on top of the latest trends that may influence your business, so even if you are just in need of a pep talk to help you through this rough business climate, call our office and we will be more than happy to lend a hand.

By taking advantage of the vast knowledge we all have access to in this industry, you can learn to delegate more, gain the support that will give you a more positive outlook, and really discover how to simplify your business life.