Time management is one of our chief concerns.

One of the keys to time management is delegation. Sometimes the only way to manage everything you have to do is to get some help. You need someone else to take on some of the tasks.

Thankfully, it’s easier than ever to find people to take on your tasks. The Internet has brought us powerful resources for connecting with one another, even if it’s only for one task at a time. Commentators talk about the new “gig” economy, which allows us to come together with others for a project and then dissolve the “team” when the project is complete.

Unfortunately, many of us, even when we have people who can help, are awful at delegating parts of projects. We say we want help, but we’re reticent to let go of the work. We hesitate to let our helpers take on the responsibility.

A 10-Step Program for the Fear of Delegation

Here are 10 tips that will help you get the assistance you need so you have the time to get things done:

1. Define the task. Be specific. Be clear. Articulate the results you’re looking to achieve. Think through the work before you hand it off, and carefully define a successful outcome.

2. Specify a timeline. Don’t hand off the work until you’ve set a deadline. If appropriate, set interim deadlines for status checks. Give yourself time—before the hard deadline—to make corrections. Don’t cut it close. As you delegate more, you free yourself from the chaos and allow yourself to give others more flexibility on timeliness. Take advantage of the time; don’t let it own you.

3. Explain why. Don’t keep the purpose of the assignment to yourself. It’s essential that the person doing the work understand how this task or project relates to the larger purpose. Obviously, you’re explaining the details of the task, but take a few minutes and provide an overview of the larger project and how this piece relates to the big picture.

4. Don’t micromanage. You truly are better off doing it yourself if you’re going to micromanage the work. Let it go. Let the person doing the work actually do the work. Don’t check in other than at the points you designated when making the assignment. Stay out of the way and trust your people to do what’s required.

5. Provide the resources. Give access to the information required. That might mean granting access to Westlaw, Lexis, or Fastcase. It might mean letting the assistant into your practice management system. Determine what resources are required and make sure you provide what’s necessary.

6. Be available. Answer questions. Provide the support required and assist when necessary. But be careful not to assume control over the work. Let the responsibility stay with the person doing the work. Don’t get sucked back in and take back over. Resist the temptation to say “just let me do it.”

7. Be open to input. There might be a better way. Often, the person doing the work will do it differently than you would have done it. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong. In fact, it might produce a better result if it’s done differently. Be open to the idea that there’s more than one way to skin a cat. Let it happen and see what you get.

8. Don’t take it back. It’s tempting, especially when your assistant is struggling, to take the task back and do it yourself. Don’t do it. Give the required support and assistance. Answer any questions, but leave the task with the person doing the work.

9. Trust. Delegation without trust is a disaster. Sure, delegation is risky. Others might make mistakes you wouldn’t have made. But you picked this person after doing your due diligence. Stay out of the way and let the person do the work. Trust that it will work out. Set a deadline giving yourself ample time to correct the situation if it goes poorly. Don’t meddle.

10. Give feedback. Regardless of the outcome of the project, give feedback on performance. Let the person handling the task know whether he or she met your expectations. Let the person know what was done well and what was done wrong.

Being good at delegation takes you to the next level. It allows you to leverage your time and accomplish far more than you can accomplish on your own. In the current environment, with the availability of virtual assistants, paralegals, and associates, delegation skills allow you to rocket ahead without taking on the risk required in the past.

Being good at delegation isn’t natural. It’s a skill that comes from practice and experience. Start delegating more. Test your approach. Modify your methods to achieve better and better results. Delegation will give you the time you need to accomplish your goals.