Episode breakdown
Barbara Turley is the founder and the CEO of The Virtual Hub, a company that helps people set up and use support assistants all around the world. The Virtual Hub gives small businesses the opportunity to outsource or use support assistants based in the Philippines to help them no matter what kind of business it is anywhere in the world.
- The importance of delegating effectively.
- Know what the employees are looking for in a leadership from the business owner in order for them to feel good about working every day.
- How to make new employees feel like they’re fitting in.
- How to properly integrate new employees into our business.
- The common mistakes made when delegating
- The first thing you need to think about before assigning chunks of workload to your employees.
- The difference between a support assistant and a strategist.
- Why having strong systems, processes, reporting lines, etc. is important in your business.
“Delegation is a skill that’s not talked about enough in the entrepreneurial community as the bit that trips so many businesses up”
In this episode
00:00 Introduction and Importance of Delegation
David Barnett introduces Barbara Turley from The Virtual Hub and frames the discussion around the importance of delegation for business owners aiming to grow beyond themselves. They agree it’s a crucial, often overlooked skill in entrepreneurship.
01:33 Employee Expectations and Leadership Structure
Barbara outlines what employees seek in a work environment — a balance of clear leadership, structured processes, and room for growth. Both discuss how chaos within a company often signals future instability and drives good employees away.
03:22 Frameworks and Common Mistakes in Delegation
They talk about the necessity of setting clear frameworks for communication, processes, and project management. Barbara identifies poor onboarding as a widespread mistake, stressing that even high-level hires need extensive adjustment periods.
06:59 Approach to Delegating Work Based on Role Level
Barbara differentiates between delegating to higher management versus assistants. She explains the importance of handing over mandates and existing processes to leaders while using assistants for task execution, cautioning against expecting strategic thinking from execution roles.
11:01 Optimizing Workforce Structure and Costs
The conversation turns to optimizing human resources by offloading low-value, repetitive tasks from high-paid staff to assistants, thus freeing up key employees for more valuable work. David shares examples from his sales career of inefficiencies when this isn’t done.
12:42 Managing Change and Team Dynamics in Delegation
Barbara warns about change management issues, noting that without careful handling, higher-level employees might fear being replaced. Open, strategic conversations are necessary to avoid misunderstandings and keep morale high.
14:11 Key Takeaways on Effective Delegation
David summarizes their discussion: successful delegation involves defining expectations, offering clear guidance, following up with feedback, and maintaining control through strong systems. Barbara adds that letting go of perfectionism is essential, as 80-90% outcomes at a lower cost are often acceptable.
17:02 Final Thoughts and Resources
Barbara shares how to learn more about The Virtual Hub and their resources for improving delegation. David wraps up the conversation, reinforcing that delegation is a vital skill for any aspiring business owner.
