53% of Startups Struggle With Delegation: Scale Smarter

Did you know that a recent report from Microsoft revealed that 53% of startups have trouble with delegation??

Let’s be honest: as a startup founder, it’s easy to feel like you need to do everything yourself. Ultimately, it's your dream—who could implement it more effectively than you?

I once shared the same sentiment. But here’s the truth: Delegation is not a sign of weakness, but rather a top strategy for your startup's growth.

Learn to delegate.

Many founders burn the midnight oil, trying to manage every aspect of their business. But the truth is, this often leads to burnout rather than success.?

The true value comes from being a visionary rather than getting stuck on every small task. When you delegate, you allow your startup to grow beyond your limitations.

Do you frequently micromanage?

Now, let's discuss a common issue many of us grapple with—micromanagement.

I understand. Your startup is your baby, and it can feel risky to let go. But here’s the point: micromanaging hurts growth.

By micromanaging every detail, you're not only slowing down your team but also hindering your productivity.

For instance, at OpenGrowth, I’ve seen new founders who feel the need to approve every single email their team sends out. Paying attention to detail is important. However, reviewing every small task wastes your time and can also undermine your team’s confidence.?

The result? Projects experience setbacks. Your team starts questioning every choice rather than taking control.

But once they broke free from the need to control everything, they saw their businesses (and their teams) flourish just as easily.

The best leaders don’t need to have a hand in every task. They trust their team to take ownership.?

Micromanaging shows your team that you don’t trust their skills. This can hurt their motivation and creativity.?

So, to conclude, the sooner you stop micromanaging, the faster your business can grow.

Play to your strengths.

No one is an expert in everything, and that includes you.?

The key to scaling your startup is focusing on what you’re great at and trusting others to handle the rest. At OpenGrowth, I’ve seen countless founders hit the ceiling because they were reluctant to hand over control.

But here’s the reality—your team is your greatest asset.

When you delegate tasks to the right people, you free up your time. You also give others a chance to excel in what they do best.?

Your time is money (quite literally!!)

Each hour you dedicate to tasks that could be managed by others is an hour not invested in planning and expansion.

This is a hard pill to swallow for a lot of entrepreneurs, but once you understand that your time is your most valuable resource, your startup will be off to a better start.?

At OpenGrowth, I’ve helped founders transition from being overwhelmed by day-to-day tasks to becoming true leaders of their companies.?

And it all started with a single delegation.

Why delegation may be all you need

We’re living in a time when businesses need to be more agile than ever. The ability to adapt and pivot is what separates the startups that succeed from those that fall behind.

And guess what? Delegation is a huge part of that agility.

When you delegate, you’re not just assigning tasks. You’re empowering your team to take on leadership, and allowing them to put their perspective on the table.

So, how do you start delegating like the leader that you are?

This is simply a glance at my list:

Trust your team

Hire people who are smarter than you in certain areas and then trust them to get the job done. Follow the Pizza rule! If you wouldn’t make your pizza dough from scratch every time you’re hungry, don’t micromanage every task.?

Instead, hand over the recipe (clear instructions) and let your team bake the perfect slice.

Prioritize high-impact tasks

Focus your energy on the areas where you can make the biggest difference and delegate the rest.

Communicate clearly

A good delegation isn’t just about handing off work but setting the right expectations. The primary part: supporting your team in every way along the way.

At the end of the day, the best leaders know that they don’t have to do everything themselves. They know that they shouldn’t.

So the next time you feel tempted to take everything on yourself, remember this: smart delegation is the way to go!

And if you’re curious about my journey, here are my previous reads

1. The new normal: Fractional expertise in the modern workplace
2. Fractional expertise: Is it a fad?
3. My unconventional journey—from a software engineer to a B2B startup founder

How has delegation impacted your startup??

Let's discuss this in the comments.

Until next time,

Cheers!??

Akriti Verma

Co-founder, OpenGrowth