Want to stay in your zone of genius? It’s time to delegate.
When we focus on staying in our zone of genius, our days become more productive, we deliver the best service to our clients, our families love having us around, and we prevent burnout. We have the “I love what I do” feeling. But what about business owners and entrepreneurs who are responsible for running everything behind the scenes? Sure, someone may not get “excited” about bookkeeping or putting the project timeline on an Excel spreadsheet, but what choice do they have? The business concept and the services they are offering are what got them excited about starting the business back in the beginning, is that enough?
In order for your business to align with your soul in a way that keeps you energetic about showing up each day, it is crucial that you find as much flow as possible. Delegation may seem daunting at first, but it’s not just about lightening your load. When you invite people to your team who can complete tasks within their zone, you add energy and talent to launch you to the “next level.” So, let’s explore how to make it happen.
How staying in your zone leads to more happiness at work and personal life.
Simply put, your zone of genius is the type of work, both personally and professionally, that gets you “in the flow.” When we feel “flow” in our work, we are less stressed, happier, and therefore more productive, according to multiple studies. When we are happier at work, we look forward to it. When we are in the flow we don’t spend all day looking at the clock and are therefore happier in our personal lives as well.
If you are a business owner, you may find that you have more freedom around discovering what lights you up, as opposed to being given mandatory tasks as an employee. Once you get to know this side of your work style you can truly enjoy the real benefits of having your own business: creating the life you want and love.
It is easy for many of us to get so caught up in the day to day of our schedule that we can forget that it is possible to LOVE your work. If you are finding it hard to fully embrace this idea, make a bit of a game out of it. For two weeks, be mindful of your emotional response to your work. Make a little note of:
- The things you dread
- The things you put off
- The things you move to the top of your list just because you know you’ll enjoy them more.
- Are there any situations with your team or customers that trigger anger?
- What annoys you during the day?
- What do you find yourself venting about?
Being able to listen to these emotional and even physical signals will get you a HUGE step closer to staying in your zone of genius
How staying in your zone leads to more productivity during the day
So, happiness is one thing, but what about everything that you have to get done during the day? One of the beautiful things about staying in your zone is that many find they become more focused on their tasks and that this leads to richer results for the business overall. Rather than being spread thin over tasks you love and tasks you dread, you deliver meaningful results that stem from your zone of genius.
And the work you find that you are putting off? This is where you start to learn about delegation and leadership.
“Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do.” ~Jessica Jackley
So, how to do it? The power of delegation
How to locate the right support
Rather than trying to hire a VA or other team member to take over all of the tasks that you prefer not to do, identify a small handful of key tasks and start small. Delegation and building a team are crucial steps in growing your business and it’s not to be rushed into.
To find team members who align with your vision, look to your community first. If no one stands out, ask within your community for referrals. Use your social media networks. If you are new to delegation, take some of the anxiety out of the process by beginning with recommendations or connections of people you trust.
Connect and communicate
Next, have conversations with people about the work. Be CLEAR and SPECIFIC about the job. Get off on the right foot by letting applicants know what they are in for. This includes hours, turnaround times, wages, tasks, communication, and anything else that keeps things running in your business.
Another thing to keep in mind is your long-term vision. Do you want to hire people who will grow with you? If so, listen to your intuition, but also hire those who will encourage you to “rise to the occasion” and keep you energized about your goals.
Worried that you won’t be able to source team members that will care about your business as much as you do? Reframe this in a way that allows you to look for team members that care about their work as much as you care about yours. Remember, if you hire freelancers, their work is their business. If you hire the right people, you will find those who take great pride in what they do.
What resistance to delegation can teach us
“In an increasingly competitive, cautious and accelerated world, those who are willing to take risks, step out of their comfort zone and into the discomfort of uncertainty will be those who will reap the biggest rewards,” writes Margie Warrell for Forbes. In short, when we do it all ourselves and refuse to ask for more help, we go on autopilot. We get things done, but that’s all we accomplish. The power lies on the other side of pushing through this resistance, trusting the unknown, trusting yourself to find the right support, and seeing what happens.
Accepting that you are not meant or created to do it all may be an incredibly liberating experience. As with anything that holds us back, letting go of the things you don’t love about your workday might be the key to opening up a new way of doing business and even living.
Do you want to brainstorm on what soul-aligned delegation looks like for you? Feel free to check out our Services Page to see if there are parts of your business that you’re ready to delegate to Soul Aligned Services. If it feels like a good fit, Click here to let me know about your business and to schedule a one-on-one 30-minute discovery session.
More resources to help you get started with delegating:
The 5 Levels of Delegation You Need to Know to Lead Well
Why Getting Comfortable With Discomfort Is Crucial to Success
7 Strategies for Delegating Better and Getting More Done
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