One of my favorite activities is reviewing my schedule to see how it’s serving the growth of my business. I get a lot of joy from identifying the tasks that require my unique leadership and presence—what I call my “Continues.” These are the projects and processes that don’t just generate revenue but also require my expertise, leverage my network of industry connections, or simply rely on my presence to reassure clients that they’ve made the right choice in doing business with us.
When you audit and categorize your schedule to discover your “Continues,” consider it a win. In these areas, you’ve identified your job description and are clear on your contribution. This clarity ensures you’re focused on the right tasks and not just putting out fires. These are the tasks your business needs you to handle today, as they directly contribute to your role as a leader and make a lasting impact.
In order to be my best, most effective self as a leader and perform my “Continues,” I have to equally commit to determining my “Delegates.”
Turning Continues Into Delegates
As you scale your business, your top priorities will inevitably shift. If you’re still handling all the same tasks as last year, it’s a sign that your business hasn’t expanded. A company won’t grow past its leader, so true growth requires stepping into new responsibilities. Many leaders find themselves constrained not by capability but by time and energy, often trading future growth for current tasks.
To effectively scale, you need to plan a healthy cycle of delegation for your day-to-day operations. In my business, the magic number is six months. Almost every initiative and decision I make is expected to have a lifetime of 182 days or less before it becomes someone else’s responsibility. A successful leader knows how to delegate effectively and create space for growth.
How to Delegate Effectively
Delegating isn’t a passive task; it’s an active process of bringing your team into your responsibilities. The best delegators view themselves as coaches. You were once a player perfecting your position, but now your goal is to duplicate your abilities across the team.
Effective delegation involves more than just giving instructions. It requires investing time, effort, and attention to properly transfer your knowledge and skills. Think of it like a quarterback handing off the ball—you’re still guiding the play while ensuring the team has what they need to succeed.
Documenting Processes for Success
To delegate effectively, meticulous documentation of processes is essential. For every role I’ve fulfilled at Cardone Ventures, I’ve created detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These documents include step-by-step instructions, screenshots, video explanations, and any other relevant details. Starting this documentation while you’re still handling the tasks is the most efficient approach.
Would you rather set aside time to document processes now, or deal with constant questions and confusion from your team? Proper documentation not only helps your team succeed but also reduces turnover. If turnover does occur, your well-documented processes will ensure that new team members can step in seamlessly.
The Art of Letting Go
handle yourself. For instance, I was once deeply involved in recruiting and onboarding at Cardone Ventures, personally vetting the first 50 team members for alignment with our goals and core values. Letting go of this responsibility was a challenge, but I found an exceptional recruiter and invested time in training her. She observed my processes and now excels in this role, demonstrating that effective delegation can lead to even better outcomes.
Another lesson came from training someone else to handle client onboarding presentations. While his initial approach was different from mine, clients responded positively. This experience reinforced the idea that fresh perspectives, when combined with diligent processes, make delegation a powerful tool.
Conclusion
In the fast-paced world of business, it’s easy to focus on immediate results. However, true leadership is about creating lasting impact by elevating others and ensuring that your positive influence endures in your absence. By mastering the art of delegation, you can not only drive your business forward but also build a legacy that lasts.
Reflect on your leadership style. Are you making others better with your presence? Are you creating a legacy that will endure? Embrace the challenge and start the work of becoming a leader who makes a true difference.
To learn more about readying yourself to delegate, order Start the Work. As I always say, “If your business isn’t growing, you’re not spending your time on the right things.”