Why Carbon Copying Yourself Isn't the Answer (And What Is)

Ever wished for a carbon copy of yourself to tackle your never-ending to-do list? 

As for-purpose leaders, we often dream of being in multiple places at once. But what if cloning yourself isn't the answer, but a symptom of a deeper issue? Let's dive into this productivity puzzle and uncover some game-changing solutions!

The Power of Delegation: Building Your Dream Team

Picture this: You're juggling tasks like a circus performer on a unicycle, convinced that only you can keep all the balls in the air. Sound familiar? This "DIY or die" mentality is as common in the for-purpose sector as ethically sourced coffee. 

But here's the kicker - it's also a one-way ticket to Burnout City.

The truth is, doing it all yourself is like trying to put out a fire with a water pistol. It might feel productive, but it's not sustainable or scalable. 

Instead, imagine assembling a dream team who understands your vision and can execute tasks similarly to how you would. That’s the power of delegation. It's about finding people who you can train to anticipate your organisation’s needs and take on responsibilities with the same passion and attention to detail that you bring to the table.

By delegating effectively, you're multiplying your impact. 

You're creating a team of mini-yous who can tackle challenges from multiple angles, all while staying true to your mission. This amplifies your effectiveness and allows your organisation to grow beyond what any single person could achieve alone.

And while it's great to have team members who think like you, diversity in thinking can lead to unexpected breakthroughs too. Don't be afraid to bring in people with different perspectives - just ensure you have a process to share how each of you approaches problem-solving so you can learn and adapt with this shared knowledge. Read more about how teams with a diverse culture or a wider age range can bring benefits.

Breaking Free from the DIY Trap

If you're like most for-purpose leaders I talk to, you might find yourself saying things like:

- "It will only take me five minutes to do, I’ll do it myself."

- "I do it better and faster, it's easier if I just do it."

- "I'm too busy to train someone else to do this."

I get it! Letting go sounds great in theory, but you think you don't have time to set up systems and train others.

Effective Delegation in the Digital Age

Effective delegation is like conducting an orchestra. You can’t hog all the instruments. You need to guide each section to play their part in harmony. It's about clear communication, trust, and empowerment.

And here's where it gets exciting – we're not talking about just human team members anymore. Enter AI, stage left. If you could decrease the time you spent on the mundane parts of your jobs, would you?  At for-purpose organisations, we are increasingly having to do more with less and while I don’t believe AI is a hands-off solution, with human assistance and support, it can be a powerful time saver. 

Think of AI as having 100 eager interns at your fingertips, ready to take on tasks and learn (I recently went to a talk and someone corrected this to be more like 100 eager untrained German Shepards!). Today’s AI tools are like having a research assistant who never sleeps (and never takes a sick day). They can help with everything from data analysis to content creation, brainstorming fundraising ideas to summarising lengthy articles, helping reduce the word count on a grant application to copywriting drafts -  freeing you up to focus on the big-picture stuff that only you can do. 
Whether it’s training an AI, dogs or a new team member, I’ve been realising more and more that there are common delegation processes that can ensure success in each scenario -  yet we often give up before seeing results, but what if you had a recipe to make each of these easier, leading to better outcomes?

From Low-Value Tasks to High-Impact Leadership

Here's the real magic of effective delegation: when you're no longer bogged down with Xero reconciling, answering routine customer enquiries, or ordering office supplies, you can focus on the activities that really move the needle:

• Building key relationships 

• Pursuing funding opportunities

• Developing innovative strategies

• Delivering on your core projects

This is where you transform from a task manager to a visionary leader.

By mastering the art of delegation, you're not just freeing up your time; you're unlocking your organisation's full potential. You're creating a ripple effect where your team grows more capable, your operations become more efficient, and your impact expands exponentially. Remember, effective leaders don't do everything themselves—they empower others to contribute their best while focusing on steering the ship towards greater horizons. Embrace delegation as your pathway to amplified impact and sustainable growth for your cause.

Introducing My Revamped Delegate For Impact Course 

Ready to figure out the systems and processes that make delegation more effective?

I’m planning on revamping my popular Delegate for Impact course in the coming months but with a few major tweaks. 

Gone are the days of trying to cram everything into a 3-hour workshop. Instead, my new and improved version is going to be over a 6-week period that is designed to help you create lasting change. It's like going to the gym - one intense session might make you feel great temporarily, but it's the consistent, structured approach that leads to real transformation.

Each week over the 6-week period, you’ll get a short weekly video recording of a key delegation concept and then a weekly implementation challenge to get the ball rolling. You'll learn how to:

• Identify tasks that are prime for delegation (to humans or AI) and then learn how to communicate effectively to ensure they're done right the first time

• Create simple, effective standard operating procedures (SOPs) without boring documentation

• Empower your team to solve problems independently, removing yourself as a bottleneck

• Leverage AI tools to supercharge your productivity and scale your organisation's impact

In this comprehensive programme, you'll discover:

• Why delegating hasn't worked for you in the past and how to change this

• The key tasks you need to delegate ASAP and the cost of not doing this

• How to quickly create and implement effective systems for delegation and training

• Tools and strategies to work more effectively and amplify your impact as a leader

Don't just take my word for it. Here's what Christine, Senior Administrator at Family Action, had to say: 

"Within a week of doing this course I had already implemented changes and introduced new systems."

And Thalia from Human Rights Measurement Initiative shared: 

"Six months later I am still using the tools and mindsets Julia demonstrated, and am much more effective in how I manage my workload and all the projects I oversee."

Ready to Let Go and Delegate?

If you're ready to break free from the DIY trap and start making a bigger impact, the waitlist for my revamped Delegate for Impact course is now open. By joining the waitlist you might even snag some early-bird bonuses when doors officially open (wink, wink).

Take the first step towards becoming the visionary leader your cause deserves!

Join my Waitlist!

Remember, in the world of for-purpose work, the goal isn't to carbon copy yourself - it's to create a legacy that continues to make an impact long after you've hung up your cape for the day. Let's make it happen, together!