Outsophobia 2: The shadow that lurks within

Article Series💡
Inspired by a post from the on the Facebook Group “The Admin Bar Community”

In a recent post on TAB, a bunch of agency owners mentioned they’re kinda freaked out about outsourcing to grow their businesses.

Seems like they’re struggling to let go and truly be the boss. So, here’s part 2 of our four-part series on crushing that fear of delegating and outsourcing. 

Here’s the first article of the series. Read it first if you haven’t!

Ready to dive in the 2nd part? Let’s do this!

Let me cut to the chase. The main thing holding you back is… well, you! Yup, it’s your fear of responsibility that’s putting a halt to delegating and outsourcing.

You might be thinking, “Me? Afraid of responsibility?” I know you’ve juggled plenty of projects for various clients. But stick with me here.

The deal is, you’re comfy being in charge of your own stuff, one client at a time. Outsourcing means you’re responsible for someone else’s work, and that can feel a bit daunting, right?

It’s rare to talk about the internal fears that stop business owners from outsourcing. It’s a touchy subject. But guess what? We’ve picked up some chatter from the TAB forum, and here are the top five reasons:

“I’m not sure I’ve got enough tasks to keep them busy.”

One biggie is the fear of not having enough work to keep a team busy. The thought of bringing in extra hands, only for them to sit idle, makes owners anxious.

It’s as though they worry about a sudden surplus of work appearing from nowhere. But let’s be honest: growing a business is hard work and takes lots of patience.

At the start, it feels like you’re juggling a million things alone. But remember, growth is about scalability. By delegating, you can focus on the big stuff—like bringing in new clients or creating awesome new products or services.

It’s kind of a chicken or egg situation. Which comes first, the client or the new hire? Ideally, you’d hire first, especially if you’re aiming to scale. You might be surprised that better client care leads to more referrals as you can focus on what matters.

“What I make from a project just about covers my bills.”

Another worry is that outsourcing will gobble up hard-earned income. Some fear they won’t be able to support themselves or their families if they make the leap.

And you know what? That’s fair. We all have bills to pay, food to put on the table, and dreams to chase. But here’s the thing: growth usually means investing a bit.

By delegating or outsourcing, we can save time and energy, letting us concentrate on the parts of our businesses that bring in the cash.

Think of it like hiring a magic assistant who makes you super efficient and effective at your job. And trust me, that’s a game-changer.

Here’s a personal story: As a mom, I was hesitant about hiring help for cooking. I thought, “I can do it myself!” But it took so much time. When I let someone else handle it, I could spend quality time with my kids and earn more for treats.

So, ask yourself: Do you want to “cook” for your family? Or hire someone else to cook while you enjoy quality family time?

“I’m good at doing, but teaching isn’t really my thing.”

The old dilemma… Some business owners hesitate to delegate because they feel they’re the only ones who can do it right. The idea of teaching someone else their skills and processes is kinda terrifying.

Who wants to be a teacher, right? It’s like adding another plate to the ones you’re already spinning. But here’s a secret: delegating doesn’t mean teaching everything from scratch.

You can start small, give clear instructions, and gradually let your team take on more as they get more confident and experienced.

You know what’s cool? There are tons of apps out there that whip up SOPs for you while you’re actually doing the work. 

They even snap screenshots of your actions and use smart AI to outline your steps. So, really, there’s no reason not to give it a shot.

And if nothing else, you can hire a professional team that already knows the ropes and can deliver without needing training.

“I’m a one-man band. Handling a team is a bit out of my comfort zone.”

Managing a team can feel intimidating, especially if you’re used to going solo. Suddenly, you’ve got different personalities and conflicts to deal with.

It’s like stepping into unknown territory without a map or compass. But don’t sweat it, managing people is a skill you can learn and sharpen.

And here’s the cool part: You don’t have to do it alone. There are loads of resources, books, and even mentors who can guide you. So, let’s rise to the challenge and unleash the incredible power of teamwork.

Management means knowing your staff’s ikigai, monitoring their time and processing payroll. Since you’re not used to the whole “managing a team” thing, I’d suggest you get on-demand services to do it for you, at least in the beginning.

In the “designer-on-tap” business model, for instance, you just give instructions and feedback. There is no need to manage designers at all with Deer Designer.

“I’m unsure about my methods. Feels like I’m mostly making it up as I go.”

Impostor syndrome strikes again! Many business owners question their own methods and feel like they’re just winging it. They worry that bringing in more help will reveal their lack of a solid plan or system.

But let me share a secret: none of us have it all figured out. We’re all doing our best, and sometimes, “winging it” is part of the journey.

As we grow and learn, our methods naturally get better and more streamlined. And having a team can actually help us see new angles and fresh ideas. So, let’s shake off those doubts and keep moving forward.

For every problem, there’s a solution

So here are some of the top reasons why business owners hesitate to delegate or outsource. Did you feel like you were looking in a mirror or reading your own diary, seeing all your fears and worries?

You’re not alone, you know? And by understanding these hurdles, we can tackle them one by one. Let’s harness the power of delegation and outsourcing, and take our businesses to new heights.

In our next article, we’ll explore more fears around outsourcing and share practical tips on how you can conquer them. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get the next article first!