10 Websites That Make Delegation Much Easier

This is what  the “delegation conversation” typically sounds like with one of my clients:

Client: I have so much to do and it is starting to sink in that I don’t have time to get it all done.

Me: This is progress. Once you can see the reality of being over-capacity, you can see different solutions. What are your options?

Client: I could take on less which doesn’t feel great. I could work longer hours, but I already feel like I work too much. I don’t want to take more time away from my family. I guess I could get more help but…

Me: But?

Client: I just don’t really have the time to train someone. And where do I even find that person who knows how to work with me? The thought of bringing on someone new right now overwhelms me even more.

Sound familiar?

Let me break down these common delegation myths and offer a few simple workarounds.

Myth #1 – It has to be all or nothing.

You don’t have to hire a full-time employee tomorrow to “start delegating”. You can pick one small project – and hire someone for one quick hour – to start saving time immediately.

If you’re out of practice, it’s best to build your delegation muscles slowly and steadily.

Here are 5 sites perfect for one-off projects that can make delegation much easier:

Fiverr.com – Every service is $5 and there are many excellent providers offering gigs you didn’t even realize you needed.

Elance.com/odesk.com – Need something transcribed? Need a goofy tech fix on your website? These people are waiting to support you.

99designs.com – Not sure where to get your logo or website updated? Crowdsource your job and you get to pick the winner.

Crowdcontent.com – Need a press release drafted? Want extra help writing blog posts? This site is an affordable answer.

It is no longer necessary to hire one person to be your everything. These resources allow you to grow and utilize a team based on your current budget and capacity.  

At some point however you will most likely want to hire a dedicated support person.

Which brings us to…

Myth #2 – You don’t have time to train someone.

This is the biggest lie of them all.

What you are actually saying is this: I am not willing to make growing my business (and balancing my life) a priority.

Until you make this shift on the inside, you will continue to experience the chaos of client demands, an overbooked schedule, and missed opportunities on the outside.  

Even if you spend one hour a month on system implementation and delegation, you are going to save time immediately.  

Block that hour on your calendar, get your team involved, and keep this time sacred.

For more on what you need in place to be effective at delegation check out this post here.

And last but not least:

Myth #3 – You don’t know where to find the right person for you.

I’d suggest getting comfortable with the idea that it may take a few tries before you land on your just-right assistant.

Think of it like dating. You need to meet a lot of people to learn what qualities fit you best. Hitting the jackpot on your first go-round is possible, but not likely.

Managing your own expectations from the beginning will save you a lot of time in the end. The sooner you start, the sooner you will find that person.

As for where to find someone?

Here are 5 more websites that can quickly set you up with a new assistant:  

bemyva.com and ivaa.org: Virtual assistant directories are a great place to find to independent virtual assistants. Expect to pay between $25 – $55 per hour.

Assistantmatch.com: This is a service that will actually do the search for you and match you with a specific assistant. Many clients love it.

zirtual.com: Reasonable monthly rates for your own dedicated U.S.-based assistant. Seems to be geared toward online business owners.

fancyhands.com: You actually have a non-dedicated U.S. based team of people  working for you which can bring the cost down significantly.

Now it’s your turn to share. What tips or tools do you use to make delegating easier?