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 — Last week, Tonya and I went behind the scenes on what sustainable success really looks like when you practice what you preach. Our LinkedIn Live conversation about a full year of podcasting without burning out revealed something important: Planning for imperfection is what makes the difference. We don't plan as if everything will go perfectly. We plan for travel conflicts, sick days, and technology failures. We stay 4-6 episodes ahead so when life happens (and it always does), we're...

what it really takes linkedin live series

Reader — I'm kicking off something new this week — a LinkedIn Live interview series called What It Takes, where I'll be talking with business owners about what it really looks like to build sustainable, profitable businesses on your own terms. But first, I'm starting with a practice round: Today, 2 p.m. PT → Tonya and I are going live to share what it's taken to build and maintain The Business You Really Want podcast for a full year without burning out. Consider it our behind-the-scenes...

Reader — In just two weeks, The Business You Really Want podcast will celebrate its first anniversary. What started as a simple but bold premise — you don't have to burn your business to the ground to build something sustainable — has grown into 52 episodes of real talk about what entrepreneurial success can mean. Today, episode 52 drops. In it, Tonya Kubo and I reflect on what we've learned in our first year of co-hosting. But we're not just looking backward. For the next month, we're...