6 Myths Stopping You from Delegating Effectively
I have lost count of how many entrepreneurs, CEOs, real estate pros, and solopreneurs have said the same thing to me: “I know I need to delegate, but…” There is always a “but.”
When I hired my first virtual assistant, delegating felt risky. Messy. Time consuming. I thought I had to do everything myself to keep my business moving. And honestly, as a brand new mom who had just been laid off from my “stable” job and was trying to build a virtual assistant business from scratch, delegating felt like something for bigger companies with bigger budgets. I was preaching delegation but really struggled with it personally.
Then I accidentally got too many clients (oops). Then I hired one person. Then another. By my third hire Alpine became a full blown agency, and I realized something important. Delegation was not something you grow into. It was something that helped you grow.
Still, most entrepreneurs, including the ones already working with a VA, hold onto myths that make delegation harder than it needs to be. Today we are breaking down the six biggest ones so you can save time, reduce stress, and finally get the support you need.
Let’s get into it.
Myth 1: “It is faster if I just do it myself.”
This is the myth that steals the most time from entrepreneurs.
Yes, doing a task yourself might be faster the first time. But not the tenth time. And definitely not the hundredth.
Every task you repeat becomes a time drain. Even something as simple as formatting a document or scheduling a meeting adds up. When you delegate correctly, you spend a little time upfront and earn hours back every week.
Here is how to shift your thinking:
• If a task happens weekly, monthly, or repeatedly, it is worth delegating.
• Create a quick Loom walking through how you do it.
• Let your VA or team member take over.
• Review and adjust once.
One client in Denver handed off a simple scheduling workflow that took her ten minutes a day. That does not sound like much until you do the math. She got almost a full workweek back every year by delegating one tiny process. That doesn’t even touch the brain space it saved her when she no longer needed to worry about that task anymore.
If delegation still feels intimidating, check out our post that breaks down how to choose your first five tasks in a simple step-by-step process.
Myth 2: “No one can do it as well as I can.”
It might sound a bit selfish when said out loud, but this one comes from a place of care. You want things done well. Your business is your baby, and it’s successful because you built it. You want your clients to feel taken care of. But the truth is, you are not the only person in the world who can write a clean email, update a CRM, schedule a call, or manage documents. You are simply the person who cares the most. That does not make you the only person qualified. Your VA or team member might even do things better because they are not juggling everything you are. They can give 100 percent of their attention to a task that you can only give 20 percent of your energy to after a long day.
And with clear instructions, examples, and expectations, you set them up to succeed.
A good rule: If something does not require your expertise, authoritative decision-making, or personal touch, someone else can do it.
Myth 3: “Delegating means losing control.”
I hear this a lot from founders who built their business from scratch. You have poured your heart, time, money, and identity into this thing. Trusting someone else can feel scary. But real delegation does not take control away. It gives control back.
Think of it like this. When you delegate well:
• You choose what you hand off
• You set the expectations
• You define the guardrails
• You decide the communication rhythm
• You approve drafts or templates
• You get updates in the format you prefer
You are not giving control to someone else. You are giving capacity to yourself. I’ve heard it said, “Delegating felt like handing someone the steering wheel until I realized I am still driving. I just do not have to change all the tires while the car is moving.” Delegation is control with breathing room.
Myth 4: “I need to organize everything before I can delegate.”
This is one of the biggest myths that keeps entrepreneurs stuck. You think you need to clean your digital house before someone else steps in. But if you wait until your systems are perfect, you will never delegate. Your VA can help you organize. That is part of their job.
They can:
Clean up your Google Drive
Build SOPs as you train and onboard
Build templates you can reuse
Create folders and naming structures
Fix your messy CRM
Standardize your documents
Create workflows you can both follow
One Denver client came to us embarrassed about her digital setup. She had 200 unfiled documents, inconsistent naming, and random folders everywhere. Her VA had everything cleaned up and organized within one week. You do not need to prep before you get help. Getting help is the prep.
Myth 5: “Delegation takes too much training.”
Good news. You do not need to create a 50-page SOP. You do not need a complicated onboarding system. You do not need to pause your business to train someone.
Training can be simple:
A quick Loom walking through your process
One example of what “great” looks like
A list of do’s and don’ts
A short chat to answer questions
A shared task board so expectations stay visible
A “why” this task matters
Most onboarding problems come from unclear expectations, not a lack of documentation. And when you work with a trained VA, they already understand email management, scheduling tools, CRM basics, and project management platforms. You are not starting from zero. If you ever choose to hire a virtual assistant, the right one will learn quickly, ask smart questions, and adapt to your preferences in the first week or two.
Myth 6: “Delegation is only for big businesses.”
I let this stop me from getting the help I needed, because I didn’t think I was big enough. I was a brand new mom, trying to hustle clients while my newborn napped, and I thought delegation was for people further along. But I grew faster once I started delegating. Not the other way around.
Delegation is not for big businesses. Delegation is how businesses get big.
Here is who delegation is actually for:
Founders who feel behind
Solopreneurs juggling too much
Real estate agents losing leads because they do not have time for follow-up
Coaches who spend more time on admin work than client work
Entrepreneurs running their business from Denver coffee shops
Online business owners who know they could grow faster if they had support
Anyone who needs remote admin or marketing support
If your business needs momentum, delegation is one of the quickest ways to create it.
How to Break These Myths and Delegate Smarter Starting Today
If you want to start delegating effectively, do not overhaul your entire business. Start small.
Here is the simplest method:
List three tasks you repeat every week.
Pick the one you dislike the most.
Record a Loom showing how you do it.
Give that video to your VA or team member.
Let them try it for one week.
Review and refine once.
That is it. Delegation does not need to be dramatic. It just needs to begin.
Delegation Is a Skill, Not a Gamble
Most myths about delegation come from fear. Fear of losing control. Fear of wasting time. Fear of spending money. Fear of things not being done right. But the truth is that delegation, when done intentionally, makes you a stronger leader, a better service provider, and a healthier human.
You do not have to carry everything alone.
Start with one task. Give yourself permission to get support. Let delegation work its magic.
Your time matters. Your energy matters. Your capacity matters. Let’s protect them.
