Do you delegate effectively? Becoming an effective delegator is one of my favourite career tips for women.

Delegating doesn’t always come easily to us women. We tend to think we can do it all, or that we should be able to do it all… If we work in a macho organisation or field, we may even see it as a sign of weakness, confirming sexist views that women just can’t take the pressure.

The media doesn’t help much either with Martha Stewart or Nigella Lawson types shimmering from our screens while running successful businesses and having the perfect home and food. Yawn.

Sometimes it seems as if there is a conspiracy among well known women to suggest that they just effortlessly manage their 12 children and mega business all by themselves (yes, Instagram, I’m talking about you). Which is why I so admired the refreshing honesty of TV personality, Kirsty Allsop, who laughed loudly when asked how she managed it all and said:

‘I have help, of course’

and cheerfully admitted to having a cleaner, help with her children, a PA, etc.

What Successful Women Do

Of all the successful women I’ve worked with one thing is constant; they understand that delegating tasks and bringing in expert help is a strength, not a weakness.

Not all of us can afford a personal assistant like Kirsty yet, but the principle stays true. Be honest about what is worth your time and what isn’t.

When you get help or delegate, get the best that you can afford or find.

Sometimes that means short term investment for long term gain:

• If hiring a cleaner means you have 3 spare hours a week to devote to your brilliant career, seriously consider it. (Obviously you’ll pay them properly and not exploit another woman to advance your career – very bad karma.) We know women still take on most of the household tasks so another option is to have a n assertive conversation with your partner and genuinely have 50/50 responsibility for housework and or childcare tasks.
• If working with a career coach for six sessions will help you make that plan, and stick to it, for your brilliant career, seriously consider it. (Yes, this may be a blatant ad from me – coaching info– but other coaches are available.)
• If bringing a marketing expert into your organisation for a couple of months will boost your business in the long term seriously consider it. Choose wisely, there are a lot of charlatans out there but a good one but can transform your own business.
• If spending time on LinkedIn or other forms of social media will boost your on line profile and career opportunities, consider getting proper tuition and setting aside time to do it.

You can’t do it all, and you can’t be brilliant at everything. Recognise where your brilliance lies and make sure you give yourself space and time to develop it. Shine on. Check out Confession Time or Career Advice for the Modest Woman.

RenewYou, My Tried and Tested Career Booster!

RenewYou has helped thousands of women make positive and lasting change in their lives. I deliver it one-to-one as part of a bespoke coaching package for women looking to move into leadership, to progress their career, or who wish to be the absolute best version of themselves.

Posted on March 15th, 2021 by Jane