How to delegate tasks effectively and in a way that feels comfortable, according to 5 women founders

• Dreamers & Doers is a private collective for female founders, investors and change-makers.
• These 5 founders say delegating your to-do list is crucial to free up time for big-picture planning.
• "The magic happens when you give yourself permission to get out of the weeds," says agency owner Katie Irving.

Delegation is a necessary component of every business that is often met with resistance and procrastination. However, your delegation journey isn't destined to be difficult. Rather, it should free up your precious time so you can spend it where you can have the most impact.

In an effort to demystify the delegation process, we tapped into the Dreamers & Doers collective to learn from five trailblazing women who've successfully implemented delegation into their lives and businesses. Their insights prove that delegation, when done with a bit of strategy behind it, can be pain-free. From changing the narrative to finding the right people, we hope their tried and true strategies will spur you to take action on your own delegation process, whether you've just begun or are hesitating to test the waters.

Remember, when your time is freed up to spend where it matters most the true magic of your impact can properly unfold.

'Delegation is an essential part of building any business'

Beth Blecherman is a marketing consultant at Blecherman Consulting, a company that consults with professionals and brands to help tell and amplify their business stories.

For those struggling with delegating, my top tip is first to understand why you are having trouble. Are you a perfectionist or did you have bad experiences in the past? Next, start small to build up your confidence. Delegation is an essential part of building any business, so overcoming your struggles will help you and your business succeed in the long run.

'I used to believe that delegating was a sign that I wasn't capable enough'

Ashima Sharma is the founder of Dreami, an open mentorship platform dedicated to connected ambitious mentees to empowering mentors.

Stop feeling guilty about delegating. I used to believe that I had to handle everything in order to prove to others what I was capable of doing on my own, and delegating was a sign that I wasn't capable enough. Let's be real, that behavior really only meant that things were getting done, but not done well.

Understand where you shine and make sure you are spending your precious energy on that area. The areas or activities where you tend to hit roadblocks or dread doing - delegate, delegate, delegate. Still feeling guilty about delegating? Just remember: Together, we are limitless. You are doing yourself and your team a huge favor by delegating.

'The magic happens when you give yourself permission to get out of the weeds'

Katie Irving is the founder and CEO of Moonshot, an insight agency that uncovers the trend, culture, and mindset of the world's most powerful generations.

Think about the cost of delegation as an investment in yourself - a tangible investment in your possibilities. You're not only freeing up your time for other tasks but, most importantly, you're freeing up mental space to focus on the bold ideas that will shape the future of your business. The magic happens when you give yourself permission to get out of the weeds.

Pinpoint the tasks that are taking up the most space in your head, especially the ones that require a lot of education. These brain-drag tasks are the best candidates for delegation and will show the biggest immediate returns.

'Start assigning small manageable jobs'

Robin Tolkan-Doyle is the owner of Charmed PR, a company that provides clients with laser-focused campaigns leading to product placement, brand awareness, and creative marketing.

Find competent, reliable, responsible employees who you feel comfortable handing off some of your workload to. As someone who loves to be in control of everything, it's hard to even say this, let alone do it. However, it's essential in keeping your business moving and your sanity intact! Start assigning small manageable jobs. Once you see them being executed properly and efficiently, you should feel better about assigning more and more.

'Delegation can lead to many valuable outcomes'

Sharonna Karni Cohen is the founder of Dreame, a curated collective of artists around the world and experiences to commission your very own work of art.

There are three steps to delegation success. First, ask yourself why the task at hand is required. Next, what impact will it create? Finally, who can help you accomplish it? If we create a storytelling angle to delegation, it increases the motivation on both sides and is easier to track. With the three steps clearly established, delegation can lead to many valuable outcomes.

All individuals featured in this article are members of Dreamers & Doers, a private collective that amplifies the entrepreneurial pursuits of extraordinary women through thought leadership opportunities, authentic connection, and access. Learn more about Dreamers & Doers and subscribe to their monthly The Digest for top entrepreneurial and career resources.