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April 7, 2025Why It's So Hard to Let Go: The Delegation Struggle for Solopreneurs
As a solopreneur, you wear all the hats: CEO, customer service rep, social media manager, bookkeeper, and probably even your own IT department. You’re the heart and soul of your business—and that’s exactly why delegation feels so personal and so hard. But here’s the truth: trying to do it all alone will eventually hold you back. Let’s talk about why delegating is especially challenging for solopreneurs—and how you can begin to let go without losing control.
- Fear of Losing Control
Your business is your baby. You’ve built it from scratch, poured your time, money, and passion into every detail. Handing off even one part of it—your inbox, your website, your social media—can feel like a huge risk.
But here’s the thing: delegation doesn’t mean giving up control. It means being strategic about where your energy goes. When you free up your time from repetitive tasks, you make space for creativity, growth, and the big picture.
- Lack of Trust
It’s natural to question, how can someone else do this task the way you would?” Maybe you’ve tried hiring help in the past, and it didn’t go well. Or maybe you just haven’t found the right person yet.
But trust is built over time, and it starts with clear expectations. The more you systematize your processes and communicate what success looks like, the easier it becomes to bring someone in without fear.
- The "I Can Do It Faster" Mentality
This one’s sneaky. You tell yourself, “It’s easier if I just do it myself,” and it might even be true—in the short term. But if you’re constantly bogged down by tasks someone else could handle, your growth gets stuck in neutral. Think long-term: investing time to train someone now means saving hours down the road. Remembering that you are nurturing a talented human can only add to your magic. They have amazing ideas as well.
- Tying Your Worth to Your Workload
Solopreneurs often equate being busy with being successful. But constantly grinding isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a fast track to burnout. Your value isn’t measured by how many hours you work; it’s measured by the impact you make. Delegating isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a smart business move.
- Communication Challenges
Hiring an assistant or independent contractor means you need to explain things clearly—your brand voice, your goals, and your preferences. That takes effort, and it can feel overwhelming at first. But the clearer you are in the beginning, the less back-and-forth (and frustration) later. Create guides, templates, and checklists to streamline communication. It’s a bit of work upfront, but it pays off big time.
- Not Setting People Up for Success
Delegation only works when the person you hire has the tools and time they need to do the job well. That might mean setting up a shared folder system, giving them access to your platforms, or building in time for check-ins. Think of it like planting a seed—you have to give it the right environment to grow.
Start Small, But Start Now
This is where I have issues. Delegating your bookkeeping completely terrifies me. I have work to do on this path. I understand that I don’t need a full-time team to start delegating, but I do need the extra eyes, smart input, and camaraderie while working. You might be the same.
Consider...
- Hire an assistant or VA for just 5–10 hours a week.
- Outsource bookkeeping or scheduling.
- Bring on a freelance or independent contractor for content creation or graphic design.
The goal is to take something off your plate so you can focus on what only you can do—your vision, your expertise, and your magic.
Remember: Delegation isn’t about losing control. It’s about gaining momentum. Let go of the tasks that drain you, and step into the role of CEO of your business. Your future self will thank you.
