{"id":163412,"date":"2026-02-17T14:01:53","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T14:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/?p=163412"},"modified":"2026-03-11T09:47:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T09:47:37","slug":"delegate-to-elevate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.phorest.com\/gb\/blog\/delegate-to-elevate\/","title":{"rendered":"Delegate to Elevate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Booked and busy \u2013 what every business owner wants. While desirable, it does have its costs: sleepless nights and overwhelming stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heather Harris knows this all<\/em> too well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A nationally recognised stylist, salon owner, business leader, and celebrated speaker, Heather brings a plethora of insight around entrepreneurship and leadership. As the Founder and CEO of Spark Pro Global<\/a>, a company that provides trained executive assistants, Heather empowers professionals and business owners to delegate effectively and live a more fulfilling life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Known for her relatable style, humour, and sharp business acumen, Heather\u2019s a favourite at industry events and summits nationwide. She recently led a masterclass at our 10th Phorest Summit<\/a>, sharing real-world strategies for building a confident team and leading with intention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standing in front of a packed audience, Heather posed a powerful question: \u201cHow would you feel leaving your business unattended?\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her interactive approach, Heather\u2019s goal is to help those who can\u2019t confidently say \u2018yes\u2019 understand the process and power of strategic delegation.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Revelation That Changed Everything <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

About five years ago, during the pandemic and amidst a really difficult time in her life, Heather found herself burning the candle at both ends. She bought the salon she\u2019d been working at, was busy travelling the country as an educator, and was a single mom of three. Completely exhausted, Heather felt like she was drowning and wasn\u2019t sure what to do about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s when a friend of hers from a totally different industry said, \u201cHey Heather, have you thought about hiring a personal assistant?\u201d At first, Heather didn\u2019t understand and thought, \u201cFor what?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To wrap her head around the prospect, she showed up to her friend’s office to see how it worked. He showed her processes and gave her ideas, and the wheels in Heather\u2019s head began to turn. \u201cI could get an assistant to help with 2-way messaging clients\u2026 booking my travel, an assistant could help there. Our social media and Google reviews could use more attention.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Beginner to Professional Delegator <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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This personal and professional transformation inspired her to help others. She started a training programme where creative professionals and business owners could access the resources they needed without the difficult and time-consuming backend work of training an assistant. That\u2019s how Heather officially became a professional delegator. As she playfully jokes, it\u2019s a role she was naturally suited for, having been \u201ca little bossy since childhood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took Heather a solid year to fully embrace the concept of a virtual assistant, especially for a creative professional like herself. Her preparation involved thoroughly documenting her day-to-day tasks and compiling operating processes. Eventually, she took a leap of faith, hiring an executive assistant from the Philippines. The delegation started small \u2013 handling inquiries and social media engagement \u2013 but quickly grew to encompass daily operations. As Heather gushed: \u201cIt changed my life.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a professional delegator, Heather challenges leaders to consider: \u201cWhat’s the cost when you\u2019re stuck in admin?\u201d This cost isn\u2019t just measured in the 15 hours weekly you spend not generating revenue; it includes the toll on your health \u2013 poor sleep, high levels of stress, and strained relationships. Administrative burdens bog leaders down, disabling their ability to act, innovate, or engage creatively, leading to burnout and distraction from their true passion. Heather\u2019s message is simple: Leaders need to be their most authentic selves in order to accomplish \u2018the thing\u2019 they\u2019ve been postponing, whether that\u2019s freedom, a passion project, or a major personal goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Daily Task Audit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re wondering, \u201cWhere do I even begin,\u201d the journey starts with Heather\u2019s Daily Task Audit. Her highly interactive approach leverages workbook activities designed to get your creative juices flowing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To begin, write down everything you do on a daily and weekly basis. The list should include required business tasks you dislike, what you\u2019ve been meaning to complete, and a couple of unfulfilled passion projects. For extra detail, note the time spent on each line item. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When reviewing the final list, ask yourself: \u201cIs there anything here I\u2019d prefer not to do?\u201d This is the moment where Heather (and the Pareto Principle) truly shines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pareto\u2019s Principle: The 80\/20 Rule
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The Pareto Principle<\/a>, or the 80\/20 Rule, states that approximately 20% of your effort will give you 80% of your results. For example, 20% of your clients might generate 80% of your revenue. This principle, widely used in business, productivity, and management, is a helpful tool for identifying the 20% of tasks that create business growth while weeding out the 80% that are simply getting in your way.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Determining what to eliminate is often the hardest part, but it\u2019s Heather\u2019s favourite aspect when consulting her clients one-on-one. While most business owners have a strong idea of how <\/em>they want things done, they struggle to imagine someone else doing the work well \u2013 let alone better. Heather guarantees that while you may be great at many tasks, you don\u2019t do all <\/em>of them the best. Her superpower is identifying people who can<\/em> do it better and setting them up for success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal is to pinpoint the 20% of tasks you should<\/em> be doing and delegate the other 80% you shouldn\u2019t<\/em>. To find this, divide your tasks into \u2018likes\u2019 and \u2018dislikes\u2019 \u2013 your \u2018sweet spot\u2019 lies somewhere in the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Zone of Genius: Your \u2018Sweet Spot\u2019
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Shedding the 80% of tasks you shouldn\u2019t <\/em>be doing immediately grants you more freedom in how you spend your time. This newfound capacity can be channelled into finally tackling a passion project or simply being more present in your own life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To reveal what Heather calls your \u201cZone of Genius,\u201d review your Daily Task Audit with three core questions in mind: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. \u201cDo I enjoy doing this?\u201d<\/strong>
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  2. \u201cAm I good at it?\u201d<\/strong>
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  3. \u201cDoes it generate significant revenue?\u201d <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Time to get visual and decode your \u2018sweet spot.\u2019 For the practical exercise, mark your task list using three symbols: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Circle:<\/strong> Put a circle around each task you\u2019re the best at.
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    2. Dollar Sign: <\/strong>Next to anything that makes you the most money, add a dollar sign.
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    3. Heart: <\/strong>Place a heart next to the tasks you love the most. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      If there’s a heart next to something that doesn’t make you money, like driving your children to school or walking your dog, Heather says to always keep it. That’s part of your fulfilling life. Lastly, cross out what you dislike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The resulting combination is your \u2018sweet spot\u2019 \u2013 the things you should<\/em> be spending more time doing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Putting Delegation to Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      By entrusting tasks to an in-house team or external contractor, you can achieve new levels of efficiency and instantly get more done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Here are the key areas Heather suggests for beginning delegation: <\/p>\n\n\n\n