Necessary Tasks You May Want to Delegate
As a business owner, time is of the essence. Running a business is demanding. You are either performing the day-to-day administrative work or you're working in your business, attending to your customers or clients. What is the best use of your time? The answer is simple. Your time should be spent doing what you do best. The day-to-day administrative tasks can be delegated. It's so much easier to review work than to do it yourself! Here are some suggestions to get you started.
1. Secretarial services
Don't do this yourself. From answering phones to managing your correspondence, hire a secretary or a service to handle these everyday, but very time-consuming tasks.
2. Research
Need to find market data, special software for your business, or research a particular issue? Don't spend valuable time doing it yourself. There are online researchers, virtual assistants, and even college students who have access to the latest and greatest research databases and tools.
3. Word processing
This is a wonderful task to delegate. You can make it even easier by recording your thoughts and then passing a tape or digital recording to an administrative assistant for processing. Word processing assistance is especially helpful if you're producing large volumes of books, workbooks, or other word-intensive products as a part of your business.
4. Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentations
Why be a Microsoft guru, mastering each and every one of their products? Instead, delegate the preparation of your presentations. It is far easier to critique the finished product produced by someone skilled with the software than to try to create it from scratch.
5. Data processing/database management
Managing a contact database can be a time-consuming process even if you have a small number of clients or customers. Instead of processing add, change, and delete requests yourself, spend your time adding new customers to your business. You may even be able to find a system that, once set up, automates people coming into your business through your website or eZine.
6. Desktop publishing
Publishing a newsletter or eZine? Sounds easy, but it's a lot more time intensive than you might think. Crafting a publication involves writing content, formatting, editing, and distribution. It may be time to call in a ghostwriter and/or an experienced desktop publisher to help with these projects.
7. Web design and maintenance
If your online presence is a critical part of your business, and especially if it is more complex than most (using shopping carts or interactive databases), ask someone with technical expertise to help you out. While it's a good idea to understand all aspects of your business, even how to manage your website, hiring a helper is the best solution in terms of productivity.
8. Shopping cart setup and maintenance
Setting up a shopping cart to sell your products and services is easy to do. But, easy as it is, it can be extremely time consuming depending upon the number of items that you sell. Teach someone how to do this for you. You'll be happy that you did.
9. Transcription services
Going hand-in-hand with word-processing, transcription should definitely be delegated. As an added bonus, the project you have transcribed might turn into a product you can sell to your clients or customers in the future.
10. Bookkeeping
Accounting is probably one of the most frustrating tasks of any business owner. Of all of these areas, it is definitely one that should be farmed out to a professional. At a minimum, keep your records organized in folders so that they can easily be transported to and handled by your accountant.
11. Purchasing services
Are you spending considerable time buying office supplies, collateral or even products and services, which you resell to your customers? If so, find someone skilled in purchasing and negotiation. They'll help you find what you need much faster and probably at a lesser cost.
12. Writing & editing services
Unless you're a talented writer and editor, you'll want to hire a professional. The written word, whether it's in an article, in a brochure, or on your website, speaks volumes about you and your business. You can't afford anything less than the best when it comes to writing.
13. Marketing services
As a business owner, you need to do a certain amount of marketing for your business. But when it comes to publicity, advertising, or other types of paid marketing efforts, hire a professional. They have the contacts that can make a difference to your future success.
14. Personnel services
If you have employees, that means doing payroll and possibly administering benefits. The paperwork, alone, can be overwhelming, not to mention the rules and regulations related to tax and legal compliance. Don't even think of trying to do these tasks yourself. You'll save yourself a lot of frustration.
15. Personal errands
As a business owner, hiring someone to do your personal errands will free you up to work in your business and will provide you that much needed break when you just want to be at home relaxing. Having someone to do personal errands like renewing subscriptions, handling snail mail, dry cleaning, and even providing food delivery or in-house chef services can free up considerable time that can be spent doing things that you most enjoy.
© Copyright 2004 by Alicia Smith
Alicia Smith is a Coach and Trainer whose specialty is helping people Make Money Now. She has taught over 70,000 people how to improve their business bottom lines. This article is excerpted from her eBook, Your Home Office How to Manual. To learn more about her other courses, products and services please email her at alicia@aliciasmith.com or visit http://www.AliciaSmith.com
Latest News
Ipswitch WhatsUp Gold Network Management Gives Back in 2009 MSNBC - LEXINGTON, MA - Ipswitch, Inc.'s Network Management division, the leading developer of affordable and easy to use network management software, WhatsUp Gold, ... |
Lehman Deal Spins Off Part of Private Equity Unit Into Independent ... New York Times, United States - Under the deal, the private equity firm’s current management, led by Charles Ayres, will purchase the firm’s most recent fund — a $3.3 billion pool of ... Lehman Said to Weigh Sale of Merchant-Banking Fund to Managers Lehman deal on private equity close Lehman to spin out private equity arm: WSJ |
Wal-Mart disappoints analysts, Walgreen chops management team Bizjournals.com, NC - (NYSE:WAG) announced plans to offer early retirement and severance programs to some 1000 corporate and field management employees, or 9 percent of those ... Retailers report dismal December sales Wal-Mart’s Bleak December May Herald More Pain in ‘09 Wal-Mart stumble shows rivals putting up a fight |
Information Builders Partners With Tagetik to Deliver Corporate ... MSNBC - "Customers often require two solutions, an executive dashboard and an operational system to manage their performance management requirements," said Gerald ... |
 News Channel 7 | Walgreen will cut 1000 management jobs in 2009 The Associated Press - NEW YORK (AP) — Drugstore operator Walgreen Co. said Thursday it will cut 1000 jobs by mid-year, or about 9 percent of corporate management, through a ... Walgreen to cut about 1000 corporate and field management jobs Walgreens Announces Reduction in Corporate and Field Management ... Walgreens to cut 1000 salaried posts |
Search Engine Optimization Inc. Announces New Addition to Senior ... MSNBC - "We are very fortunate to have Ed join our senior management team," said Garry Grant, CEO of SEO Inc. "Ed has the ideal blend of leadership, ... |
Z-Wave Alliance Showcases Brand-New Energy Management, Home ... MSNBC - Alliance member companies will showcase for the first time new, affordable energy management, home security and home control solutions in the Alliance booth ... |
Uptown men's shelter will stay open under new management Chicago Tribune, United States - Johnson declined to elaborate on the funding and management changes, but said, "We are very satisfied with the outcome of what has happened. ... |
Brookfield Asset Management 2008 Year End Conference Call ... MSNBC - You are invited to participate in Brookfield Asset Management's 2008 Year End Conference Call & Webcast on Friday, February 13, 2009 at 11:00 am (ET) to ... Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP 2008 Year End Conference ... |
 ABC News | Gary Berntsen Thinks CIA Needs 'Leadership Not Management' FOXNews - CIA COVERT OFFICER : Actually, we need leadership, not management at CIA. That person who's going to be in charge of CIA is in charge of our fight, ... Video: Analyst Weighs in on Obama's CIA Pick CIA director Obama's intel picks short on direct experience |
Resources
-
AdWords | Google AdWords | 21 Ways to Maximize ROI by Andrew Goodman
Get the original Google AdWords handbook by Andrew Goodman. This 155-page e-book is packed with advanced tips to help you maximize your AdWords campaigns. Download and get free December 2005 update.
-
Reservation software for Hotels, Motels, Bed and breakfast
Reservation software for Hotels, Motels, Bed and breakfast
-
Restaurant Checklists: restaurant menu design, cafe training, business plans, restaurant marketing a
Full package of restaurant information including restaurant menu design, training, restaurant business plans, restaurant marketing and Management forms and templates
-
Castlemelody.com: Web design and creative design of graphics
Web design with content Management system for dynamic and flexible websites.
-
...MySoftwareTemplates.com high-quality Microsoft Word templates for Software
Development, Proposal
Write successful Proposals, White Papers, Case Studies with slick templates, checklist and forms.
-
Living Within Your Means - The Easy Way!
"
-
PARENTING TOOLS to design the family of your dreams! What does your dream family look like?
Powerful tools for parenting, anger Management, and creative blocks!
-
Productivity. Improve business productivity through work measurement and method study.
Set of resources to improve worker, workplace and office productivity. Learn to measure productivity, calculate a productivity index and construct a total factor productivity index. Resources include team productivity and employee productivity.
-
Construction Information Services - Construction Management
Construction Information Services include Construction Management ebooks - Construction Software - Articles - Firm directories - Forecasting and Trends of the building industry
-
Landlord Property Management Rental Guide
Looking to manage your own rental property? Use our beginners guide for landlords and rental property investors!