Do you feel like a firefighter instead of a marketing operations leader? One minute you’re strategizing a complete process overhaul, the next you’re troubleshooting a seemingly insignificant data entry error. This constant back and forth between big-picture vision and microscopic detail is a hallmark of an operations leader.
But there can be a disconnect between strategic planning and getting things done. A study by David Norton and Robert Kaplan in their book “The Balanced Scorecard” found that a staggering 90% of organizations fail to execute their strategies successfully. It could have something to do with the fact that operations leaders, who spend less than 1 hour a month focusing on strategy, are also bogged down in daily tasks. But what if you could bridge the gap between strategy and execution?
The answer lies in the powerful duo of delegation and automation. By empowering your team and using automated workflows, you can free yourself from the daily grind and focus on what truly matters: translating vision into reality.
Delegation can feel like letting go of control, but there are ways to overcome delegation anxieties:
- Start small: Don’t overwhelm yourself or your team. Begin by delegating smaller, less critical tasks and gradually increase complexity as confidence builds.
- Communication is key: Clearly communicate task expectations and deadlines, and give your team access to necessary resources.
- Empower, don’t micromanage: Trust your team’s abilities and provide them with the autonomy to make decisions within set parameters.
- Offer support and feedback: Be available to answer questions and provide constructive feedback to help team members learn and grow.
- Celebrate successes: Recognize and acknowledge team accomplishments to foster a culture of ownership and accountability.
Benefits of task delegation
A study by Inc.com revealed that over half (53%) of business owners believe delegating just a sliver (10%) of their workload could fuel business growth by more than 20%. But the benefits of sharing tasks extend far beyond just scaling your business.
Delegating lets you do more.
- Free up your time: Offload tasks to focus on bigger-picture thinking and solving complex problems.
- Boost your team morale: Delegation empowers your team, fostering ownership and motivation. They’ll take pride in their work!
- Get fresh ideas: Tap into your team’s diverse perspectives to tackle challenges with innovative solutions.
Worried about quality or follow-through? That’s valid, but don’t let it stop you. Automation tools can help! They ensure tasks are completed efficiently and accurately, easing your worries about letting go.
Automation: your data-driven partner
Automated workflows can collect and process data, and auto-populate your CRM, eliminating manual data entry errors. This saves time, connects your systems to remove manual data upload, and provides valuable insights into where improvements can be made within the workflow process.
Benefits of automation:
- Reduced errors: Eliminate human error by automating repetitive tasks like data entry and processing.
- Improved accuracy: collect clean data that follows predetermined conventions and rules to eliminate CRM data inconsistencies and duplications.
- Enhanced visibility Transparent workflows show where process bottlenecks happen, improving collaboration and accountability.
The secret weapon: a “trust but verify” approach
Delegation and automation allow you to offload while keeping an eye on projects before they turn sideways. Implement a “trust but verify” approach, particularly with new team members or critical tasks. Automated workflows can include initial approval steps until team members gain confidence, allowing you to maintain oversight of the tasks you delegate while empowering growth.
Delegation gives the gift of strategic freedom
By mastering delegation and automation, you can go from a harried micromanager to the strategic leader you’ve always known yourself to be. Imagine the possibilities:
- Leading brainstorms: Guide your team in developing innovative solutions to complex operational challenges.
- Building a collaborative culture: Foster an environment where team members feel empowered and valued, leading to increased productivity and morale.
- Becoming a data-driven leader: Utilize real-time insights from automated workflows to make strategic decisions that optimize your entire operation.
- Get ahead: Use automated workflows to improve the efficiency of slow going projects and for visibility that holds team members accountable for bottlenecks and can reveal patterns in process backlogs.
The answer is in the workflow
FormAssembly workflow has an assignment feature that lets you seamlessly delegate tasks so you can collaboratively gather information from multiple team members or even external parties, all within one streamlined, visible, workflow interface. Secure data collection and processing within workflows is key for compliant practices and ensures the confidentiality and integrity of your company and client information.
Delegate tasks and reassign them as needed, set notifications, return tasks to the previous step, send reminders, and build in QA and final approvals. Get total visibility, and total delegation with a collaborative form-based workflow.
Ready to ditch the whack-a-mole and embrace strategic freedom? Explore FormAssembly Workflow and see how it can empower your team and streamline your operations!
