Women in Business - How to Outsource Tasks Effectively & Get Things Done

As a new women entrepreneur you are currently filling every role in your business. Although this is a natural starting place, there will come a point in time when tasks take too long to complete, important to-do's never fall off your list, high energy levels become harder to maintain, and frustration and overwhelm becomes the new mantra. These are sure-tell signs that it's time to gain more support and expand beyond yourself. Outsourcing is one of the quickest, easiest, and most inexpensive ways to hire help and get things done faster. One of the reasons why entrepreneurs delay getting the help they need is the fear of lost control within their business. The best way to combat or lessen this anxiety is effective preparation. Here are 5 steps to outsourcing with confidence & getting things done: 1. Get clear on what needs to be outsourced. When overwhelm is at its peak, it's sometimes hard to figure out where to begin, as everything presents itself as a priority. To start, focus on revenue generating activities in order to bring income into the business more quickly. Secondly, identify the tasks that you despise or take up too much of your time. By eliminating these barriers you can restore momentum and increase your energy levels. 2. Identify the skills needed to get tasks done. Once you know what to get done, think about how tasks will get completed. To do this, figure out what skills are needed to get you from point A to point B. For example, if you find yourself hitting a wall with technical tasks (e.g. web development, shopping cart set up, setting up a blog, use of an autoresponder, etc), find someone with this skill set to fill the void. 3. Know what outcomes you are looking for. Often times people get upset when hired help doesn't produce the results they want. To avoid this from happening, establish your "criteria" for a job well done. Visualize the look and feel of finished projects and use this image as your standard of satisfaction and excellence. 4. Articulate clearly how you want things done. The idea here is delegation, not abdication. This means you need to provide necessary direction and guidance as opposed to leaving your hired help alone to figure out your process. In so doing, you will also have a chance to establish benchmarks of success along the way, and accurately measure the extent of outcomes met. 5. Hire subcontractors. Subcontractors or freelancers are the way to go because it's easier, more convenient, and overall cheaper than an employee. They work on an hourly or project basis, and are responsible for their own taxes and insurance. The only thing you would have to provide is a 1099-MISC form that specifies what you pay them, so that they can use it to file their taxes. It's never too soon to begin thinking about outsourcing and building your team. The best time to think about it is before the need becomes eminent. This way when the time is right, you can move with action more quickly and seamlessly without losing control.