What does true delegation mean to you?


As a CEO, you've likely heard that delegation is crucial for growth. But here's the truth: most of us are doing it wrong. We're creating more stress, not less, by misunderstanding what real delegation looks like.

Delegation is a skill. Few people are born naturals. But the good news is skills can be learned.

Today, on the podcast, co-host Tonya Kubo and I are teaching what we’ve seen work..

Here’s what we cover:

  • Why "just hand it off" rarely works
  • The multi-phase process of effective delegation
  • How to overcome the fear that "no one does it like I do"
  • Strategies for holding your team accountable without micromanaging

Ready to transform how you lead and scale your business? Tune in on Apple and Spotify, or watch on YouTube.

I'd love to hear from you! What delegation challenges are you facing? Your insights could shape future episodes. Simply reply to this email with your thoughts.

Here's to building the business you really want!

Gwen Bortner,
Everyday Effectiveness


My Best Tips for Working from Home

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with productivity expert Gale Bates, who hosts a YouTube series on how to work from home effectively.

What I enjoyed most about the interview was being able to acknowledge how I’ve designed my life to avoid at-home distractions.

Watch the full episode to find out why my methods often go against typical "expert" advice and how these strategies can be applied to your own work-from-home journey. And if you listen to the whole episode, you’ll hear Gale mention Tonya and the tech stack we use in our organization (Slack, Google Workspace, etc.).


Will You be at Quilt Market in Houston?

There are few things I love more than leading business workshops. But when I get to pair teaching with my love of fiber arts, it feels like Christmas has come early.

I have the privilege of teaching three sessions at Quilt Market, which takes place in Houston from Oct. 26-28. If you’re going to be there, let me know by replying here AND make sure to visit me in between sessions at the Cherrywood Hand-Dyed Fabrics booth. Cherrywood has been a longtime client of mine and I enjoy seeing their event setup every chance I get.

Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

  • Schedule a call to discuss how I can help you design your business with intention.
  • Join the Small Biz Book Club to discuss applying big ideas from business books to small business reality.
  • Book me as a speaker or podcast guest.

PO Box 1133, Merced, CA 95341
Unsubscribe

Gwen Bortner | Everyday Effectiveness

Gwen Bortner is a business advisor who provides outside perspective and unwavering accountability. She’s also the one to ask the hard questions others won't. After four decades of working across 47+ industries, Gwen has learned that marketing and sales have built-in feedback loops — you know quickly if they're working. But the behind-the-scenes engine that runs your business? That's where the blind spots live. That's where successful businesses secretly start breaking down, even when everything looks fine from the outside. Gwen's monthly newsletter provides tips to help you identify bottlenecks others miss so you can build a business that performs well without consuming your life.

Read more from Gwen Bortner | Everyday Effectiveness

Reader — That choice you're second-guessing? The one keeping you up at night? It's probably not the disaster you think it is. Too many entrepreneurs get paralyzed thinking every business decision is permanent. They agonize over choices, convinced that picking the wrong path will doom them to failure. But that’s a myth. Fact: You can always make a different choice. For example, I decided this week to push pause on our Small Biz Book Club. A year ago, monthly conversations focused on business...

Reader — Hope you had a restful long weekend. If you're like most of my clients, you're probably easing back into work mode today. And maybe feeling that familiar tug of overwhelm as you look at everything on your plate. Here's a question I want you to sit with: What if the business you're returning to isn't actually the business you want to be running? I know that sounds dramatic, but hear me out. Recently, I've had several conversations with successful business owners who all said some...

Reader — Success doesn't require working yourself to the bone. But that’s a false belief causing countless business owners to burn out while their profits stagnate. Here's what I've discovered after working with hundreds of entrepreneurs: your business runs exactly as it was designed to run. If you're exhausted and overwhelmed, that's by design — not by necessity. The truth is that alignment reduces friction. When the GEARS of your business work together harmoniously, everything flows with...