How many of us have started the day with good intentions only to find that at the end it, our to-do list is still as long as it was in the morning. If this sounds like you, there is a very simple time management tool that you can use known as delegation.

Delegation can free up you time to work on other projects and it will also provide some valuable experience for other members of your team. Many managers can see the benefit of delegation but make excuses for not implementing it into their workforce. They invent excuses such as "yes, but it would be better if I did it myself."

Many talk themselves out of implementing such a useful tool and fear that they would lose control, become dispensable or they simply not trust others to complete tasks with proficiency. With so many "yes, buts..." flying around, they owe it to themselves to look at each excuse in detail and turn them into positives. By seeing its potential, delegation becomes something that they cannot live without.

Lighten the load...One way of keeping on top of your schedule is to prioritize your workload and distribute it amongst those members of your team who have the skills and capabilities to step into your shoes. This allows you to spend less time doing lower level tasks and more time to deal with higher level projects which need your professional eye.

"Yes but it will look as though I am unable to cope..." on the contrary. It will have the opposite effect as team members are given more responsibility, this boosts their confidence and expands their knowledge. A weak manager or one who is lacking in confidence is likely to feel this way...they fear that giving away aspects of their role will also mean lessening their position of power. However, they are still in control through careful monitoring of the tasks delegated.

Bring out the best in your employees...Every one of your team has skills and interests which will complement the tasks that you delegate. This gives you the opportunity to allocate work to those who have the qualities that you are looking for.

"Yes but I wouldn't be able to live with the shame..." There is no shame in asking your team to help out with a busy workload. Show your team that you respect the additional talents that they have and you will elevate your position rather than lose it. Camaraderie in the work place is paramount to your success as a manager.

"Yes but they will just mess it up and make me look bad..." Yes, they might not always get it right the first time but mistakes are ways for your team to learn and improve. With a little extra time set aside for some informative feedback, you can manage the transition. Eventually, those little errors will fade away until they are non-existent. Remember, tasks do not have to always be carried out as you would do them. If the end result means accepted standards, allow individuals to complete work in any way that they are comfortable. You may even learn a few short cuts yourself.

Trust your team...If you have a detailed account of the workload for each and every team member, you will be able to distinguish which co-workers could take on extra duties They will not feel overloaded, in fact they are likely to feel empowered that they have been chosen to take on extra responsibility.

"Yes but they will hate me adding more work to their schedule..." This could happen if you do not take the time to explain exactly what you require from them. You need to give an example of what the end result should look like, the methods you would like them to use and how often you would like feedback. You can even share the responsibility between two people so as they can work with each other if a problem should arise rather than continually coming to you for advice.

You cannot run a company on your own...believing you can do everything yourself is known as "false efficiency". Initially, it may take a bit of time for tasks to be understood and completed effectively but your health will not suffer in the process. Being healthy leads to productivity so you owe it to yourself to have confidence in the skills of your workforce to make good decisions and work according to your requirements.

Start building up the capability of your team and your own personal confidence in their abilities. By delegating effectively, you can use it as a training opportunity to promote self-belief and confidence in your staff. So looking at your "Yes buts..." it is easy to see that the benefits of delegation far outweigh the negatives. With businesses evolving so rapidly, this gives you the freedom to plan for your company's future and remain highly competitive.

Work 'smart' and stop working hard. You invest in your team so make sure that you receive a maximum return. You work with them every single day so trust them with responsibilities that will help you to get the job done in maximum time.