Letting go of control

[Twpchair]

Is everyone else like me who has a hard time letting go of control or feel the need they need to be there 24/7? I have been working on this 😉 (trying) and I have great employees who can do it all very well I will say. But I feel like I run in circles 24/7 and go nowhere! Business has picked up very close to 2018 and 2019! We were doing amazing numbers. I had to close for two days to keep up, allow for more delivery days, and hire 2 more people at one location, and Feb 1st location number 2 will open (fingers crossed) we are in single digits for the 2nd week. I will be opening a new store 3 building down from our big store. Blessing or curse? Is anyone else that just feels like they HAVE to be there and honestly don't and know that your staff can do it and very well without for a day? 

[CareyJo]

I think it comes down to not only training your staff, little by little and delegating to them, little by little, but training yourself along the way.

Each time that you delegate a little more responsibility to a staff member and see them successfully handle that task, it allows you to put trust in yourself that you made the right decision and trust in them that they can handle it.  Yes, you have to check up for a little while to make sure it was done right but you need to trust that it is right.  

I run our entire business, so all things administrative are on me.  I hired a temp employee one time to do some data entry for me and even after training her and answering a 1000 questions, she still did it all wrong.  I had to go back and correct all of her work.  So I understand where you're at and where the trust comes from.  I know that if I do it myself, it will get done right.  Now I have someone else that does do it right and I can lay out tasks for her and know with confidence that I won't have to double check her work.

You can't eat an elephant all in one bite and you can't delegate it all at once.  Do it in increments and both you and your staff will feel the trust that they're doing a good job for you.

[Twpchair]

Ugh, 2 have been with me for 12 years and honestly do it just as well, and probably 2x faster than myself. I know that they can do it and I have full trust in them it's me honestly letting go! These past couple of months getting the 2nd store ready they have been great and every morning and night everything is done. The spreadsheet is dead on accurate, the delivery orders are up and loaded for the morning they thought that would be easier time permitting. Great idea and I always tell them how much I truly appreciate them and staying with us. It's not the easiest job your lifting and moving furniture all day. Redoing the store nonstop. Every Saturday is take-out day and each week they rotate where to order from It is just my little way of saying thank you for all you do and for putting up with me running around like a wild woman 😆. Thank you 

[CareyJo]

I love that you treat them every week!  I think you're doing a great job and going in the right direction!

[Minion]

AHh the fun struggle of a small business owner!    Back some 15 years ago when I was working in the restaurant business I remember it clear as day. I worked for my boss for some 8 years prior to that going from a dishwasher up to a sous chef for his steakhouse. It was Valentine Day, we were over booked with reservations and this was our first Hallmark day that we were going to be open for, so the pressure was on us already. 

One hour before opening my boss (head chef) ended up slicing the tip of his finger off and having to go to the ER.  I remember him looking at me and simply asking " Are you guys good, can you handle this?"  The confidence kicked in and I simply replied "Yeah, GTFO of here so you can get back".  4 hours of pure beautiful chaos had taken place with only one hiccup before he returned.  We rocked it.  

The moral of the story is, if you have a good enough staff there that respect you, the line of work that they are in and have a decent work ethic you will be fine to step away.  It comes down to trusting yourself that you hired and taught them enough to handle it on their own.  

Best of luck with the new store!

[Twpchair]

Thank you! After 12 years and still having the same 2 employees we must be doing something right. I hired more men later on with the furniture and pick up and delivery. They are amazing and probably during the week 90% of our customers are women and the guys just cater to them and they get better reviews than I do 😆 weekend it's the couples making the final decision and purchase. Glad to hear you guys rocked it! A huge day like that the doctor would be given me a little mellow-out shot im sure! 😆 they can do this 100% it's me and letting them do it! I've been working on it and doing better and everything looks great and the job is done every day. Thank you! 

[Lovewell]

This is such a battle!

I think we went through this. Now I know our team can handle it but then I have owners guilt and feel bad that I'm not there while others are working haha. 

So the answer changes depending on the day. Overall it feels really good to know we've got a great crew. 

[Twpchair]

Same! If im home I feel guilty because I'm not there doing something and then when I am there 8/9 days in a row guilty because I should be home maybe cleaning or cooking a meal or just relaxing. I have been working on it and have taken every Sunday off so far I haven't been at all. I  know it's all me and not the employee's they can do it just fine. I guess it's baby steps but I need to do leaps soon with opening a 2nd store on Feb 1st. 😆 Thank you! I was wondering if I was the only one out there who felt this way or just the need to be there when I know honestly I don't have to. 

[doc_choc]

@Twpchair it's a tough one, you are not alone on this but you can't do it all you have to delegate. You have to rely on competent team members, structures and systems. The team have to know what your expectations, their boundaries are and what their job description and responsibilities cover, run with that and continually review until they meet or get close to your expectations. They will never meet your expectations as fully as you. As the founder you can make decisions at certain levels team members can not or feel comfortable doing, but they should get pretty close. Good luck! 

[Twpchair]

Thank you so much I appreciate it and needed to hear that from someone else and not my husband or employees. I do not doubt that they can't handle it. I go to Tennessee every winter for 10 days to visit my whole family and the store is still there and everything is done, the store looks great, and the banking is done. It's me really and I've gotten better, especially with a 2nd store opening on February 1st (fingers crossed) the weather is not cooperating. I need to do better and just delegate what I would like done each day and prior to closing and let them do it and check in now and then and make sure all is smooth. The new store is 3 buildings down 😆 not like I can't drop in. I do have very good employees and 2 have been with me since we opened the doors 12 years ago. They can do this and so can I! Thank you again!

[ChickenRacer]

I have been very guilty of this, and still am! About to learn very quickly though, opening up a second venue 600km+ away haha. For me it's trusting the staff, and taking enjoyment over different favourable outcomes. 

The fact that my manager is starting to outshine me on some things, is a great joy

[CareyJo]

That's when you know you're really successful with your staff!  Congrats!!

[eatunicookies]

Understandably, you're feeling this way. Letting go of control, even when you trust your team, can be incredibly difficult. It's often tied to a fear of the unknown – what will you do with yourself if you're not constantly in the thick of things? It's like a comfort zone, even if it's stressful because it's familiar.  This is where the idea of "identity foreclosure" comes in – sometimes we cling to roles and responsibilities because we haven't explored other aspects of ourselves. Letting go can feel like losing a part of who we are.

The beauty is that this is a chance for growth within your business and personally. By passing off responsibilities, you're not just freeing up your time, you're empowering your team to develop their skills and contribute at a higher level. This actually strengthens your business in the long run.  This requires a different skillset, one focused on strategy, vision, and mentorship.

Suggestion: Challenge yourself to take 30 days off. Make the two employees that's been there for 12 years with you, your actual doubles, operation managers and they oversee the growth of the two locations while working remotely and onsite with the teams at the other two stores.

Step by step. You got this

[CareyJo]

Love this!!!  Fantastic advice!  30 days might be a bit much for her but what about a week to start?  3 days?  Bite size.

[homeprogreen]

Personally I just can’t bring myself to let anyone but me handle the business stuff. I am at the shop 6 days a week from open to close. Been doing it that way for a very long time now and it’s worked

[CareyJo]

Do you know the reason why?  Have you considered changing things?  Does it feel scary?  I know it's working - BTDT.  But I also know that living our business 24/7 takes a huge toll and I have to have life.  What would help you slowly let go of some of it?

[vinesandrushes]

I'm at a point where, 12 years in, I try to focus on the things that only I can do and let my staff do all of the things they don't need me for.  I promise to teach my staff something new every day. I work with them with the tactic of "Watch me do it, we do it together, I watch you do it".  Depending on the complexity, that may take a day or a year to work through. 

If a staff member makes a mistake, the first time they make the mistake it's my fault because I probably didn't train them well enough, the second time it's probably their fault.  I also won't reprimand a staff for making a mistake the first time - just work on corrective action so that it doesn't happen again.

Try and shift your mindset to working ON the business instead of IN the business.

It used to be that when a phone call came in it was always for me.  Now, it's more likely to be for the general manager and I don't even need to think about it unless she has a question for me.  

A big lesson in hiring is to find the people that will learn how you think, reason and problem solve and hire them.