Guide
Step back from a task you've been doing forever
A practical process for finally letting go of something only you have ever done.
Write down every step, even the ones that feel obvious
The task probably lives entirely in your head at this point. Writing it down as a simple SOP is what makes it possible for someone else to actually do it (see the SOP guide in this playbook).
Pick the right person, not just the most available one
Someone detail-oriented for a precise task, someone personable for a customer-facing one. Matching the task to the person's strengths matters more than just handing it to whoever has spare time.
Do it together once, then watch once, then step away
Three stages: you do it while they watch, they do it while you watch, then they do it alone. Skipping stages is the most common reason a handoff fails.
Accept that it'll be done differently, not necessarily worse
Someone else's version of the task will rarely look identical to yours. If the outcome is still good, resist the urge to make it match your exact process, that's a fast way to quietly take the task back.
That’s the whole thing.
Keep going
What to read next
- 01
Delegation & Scaling Yourself Out
Know when it's time to hire your first ops person
Recognise the signs that you personally have become the bottleneck in the business.
- 02
Delegation & Scaling Yourself Out
Delegate a task without doing it twice
A simple handoff process that prevents you from quietly redoing the work yourself.
- 03
Delegation & Scaling Yourself Out
Build a simple decision-rights chart
Make it clear who can decide what, so people stop asking you for small approvals.