Delegation for Working Mothers: Reclaim Time & Sanity

Delegating Like a CEO: Reclaiming Your Time & Sanity (at Home & in Your Business!)

Right, let's be honest, how many of us are absolute bosses at delegating in our businesses, yet somehow, when it comes to the home front, we morph into superheroes attempting to juggle ALL the things? It's like we're all secretly auditioning for a spot in the next Mission Impossible movie, except instead of disarming bombs, we're diffusing toddler tantrums & navigating the treacherous terrain of teenage mood swings.

If you're a Foundation Builder, this probably sounds way too familiar. I get it. Believe me, with four kids (a teenager who seems to speak fluent eye-roll, a school-aged budding scientist whose experiments occasionally involve the entire contents of the kitchen cupboards, a toddler who views my work laptop as a personal Everest, & a baby whose language skills currently consist primarily of high-pitched shrieks – not to mention the two miniature pinchers, Cappuccino & Espresso, who have somehow mastered the art of simultaneous chaos), a PhD, & running Femmeprenista, I'm intimately familiar with this daily circus. Just last week, I was this close to nailing a presentation for a group of potential investors when my toddler decided the perfect canvas for his artistic expression was my notes... with a bright pink, sparkly permanent marker (the kind that's supposedly "washable," but we all know the truth, right?). Authentic, relatable chaos – it's the name of the game, or at least, it feels like it sometimes!

As Adrienne Weimer so brilliantly emphasizes, building a business can hold a mirror up to a whole host of ingrained patterns & limiting beliefs. This whole juggle of family & business has definitely shown me where I need to, you know, up my delegation game. It’s time to channel our inner CEO, even (and especially) when it comes to home life. There is a better way. You don't need superpowers, just a solid strategy, some clear communication & remember, like Paulo Coelho says: “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”

From Superwoman to Strategic Delegator: Shifting the Home-Front Narrative

Society often puts this unspoken pressure on women to manage the household, even when we’re also building empires. It's this whole “have it all, do it all” myth that’s, frankly, exhausting & unsustainable. Remember, we're meant to love ourselves, ladies, & putting on our own oxygen mask first sometimes means asking for help! That applies to our own well-being & sanity too! We deserve better than constantly feeling like we're one dropped sippy cup away from a total meltdown.

The key is to reframe this whole dynamic. It’s not about "who does more" or keeping score. It’s about smartly allocating resources within the “family business” for optimal efficiency & sanity. Think of it this way: in your business, you wouldn’t hesitate to delegate tasks to streamline processes & maximize output. Why treat your home any differently? It, too, is an enterprise, a beautiful, messy, chaotic, & utterly worthwhile enterprise, that needs clear direction & shared responsibility.

The Art of "Delegation Back to the Delegator": A CEO's Guide to Home Harmony

So, how do we actually do this, this whole delegation thing at home? Here's where those honed CEO skills come in handy. It’s time for some strategic "delegation back to the delegator"—meaning, it’s time to get everyone involved, including (and especially) your partner.

• Open Communication is Key: Schedule a “family business meeting” (minus the formal boardroom & power suits, unless that's your family's vibe). Discuss household responsibilities openly & honestly. This isn't about blame or criticism, but creating a shared understanding of the work involved. For example, start by listing all the tasks involved in running the household – from meal prep and school runs to laundry and grocery shopping. Then, discuss who currently handles each task and how much time it realistically takes. This creates a visual representation of the workload distribution and opens the door for a more balanced approach. My own "aha" moment with this came after a truly epic week where I felt like I was single-handedly keeping all the plates spinning while my partner focused on his PhD research. It all came to a head during a particularly chaotic morning rush when I realized I had left the house with, you guessed it, one eyeliner on because I’d been so busy cleaning up a spilled smoothie that had somehow migrated from the kitchen to the hallway. We had a "family business meeting" that very evening.

• Define Clear Roles & Responsibilities: Just like in your business, everyone needs a defined role. Who's in charge of what? Create a clear division of labor, taking into account individual strengths, schedules, & capabilities. It’s about playing to everyone's strengths, just like in a high-performing team! For instance, if your partner excels at organization, they might be the perfect "Chief Operations Officer" of the household, managing schedules and systems. If one of your children is detail-oriented, perhaps they could be the "Inventory Manager," keeping track of grocery needs and household supplies. My six-year-old, remarkably grounded for her age (thank you, Libra energy!), is now the official "sock sorter," a task she takes surprisingly seriously.

• Implement Systems & Processes: Streamline household chores just like you would your business workflows. Create a family calendar, chore charts (if that works for your crew), meal planning systems – whatever helps bring a sense of order to the beautiful chaos. The more organized you are, the easier it is to delegate effectively. Remember, “Success doesn’t come from doing more; it comes from doing the right things consistently.”

• Regular Check-Ins & Adjustments: Just like in a team meeting, have regular check-ins to assess what’s working, what’s not, & make adjustments as needed. Life, especially family life, is anything but static. Flexibility & adaptation are key. The goal is to create a system that supports everyone, not becomes another source of stress. One thing I learned early on, especially when trying to delegate tasks to my eldest (a strong-willed Aries!), was that rigid systems often backfire. The goal is collaboration, not dictatorship.

• Celebrate Wins & Acknowledge Effort: Recognizing & appreciating each other’s efforts is crucial for maintaining momentum & fostering a sense of teamwork. A simple "thank you" or acknowledging a job well done goes a long way!

Handling Potential Objections (Because Let's Face It, There Might Be Some!)

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking: “But my partner won’t get on board,” or “It’s just easier to do it myself.” These are totally valid concerns, & guess what? I've had them too. Remember what Adrienne Weimer brilliantly reframes: "Objections are just fear wearing a logical outfit". Let's tackle these head-on.

• Addressing Resistance: If your partner seems resistant, try appealing to their logical side. Explain how a more balanced division of labor will benefit everyone, creating more time for quality family time, less stress, & a happier home environment. According to a study by the University of California, Berkeley, couples who share household chores more equitably report significantly higher levels of relationship satisfaction. When my partner & I finally had our "smoothie-incident-induced" family business meeting, his initial resistance stemmed from a genuine misunderstanding. He simply hadn’t realized how much of the mental load & daily tasks I was carrying, on top of my business & PhD commitments. Once we had an open & honest conversation about it, he was not only willing to step up, but actually initiated some helpful systems himself.

• The "Easier to Do It Myself" Trap: It might seem easier in the short term, but in the long run, doing everything yourself is a recipe for burnout, resentment, & reinforces the very imbalance you're trying to address. Remember, we're aiming for sustainable success, not superhero status. Delegating, just like any new skill, takes practice & patience, but the rewards – more time, more energy, more sanity – are so worth it. I remember when I first started delegating tasks in my business. It felt clunky & inefficient. I constantly second-guessed myself & often just ended up redoing the work. It would have been so easy to give up & say, "See, it's easier if I just do it myself," but I persisted, refined my processes, provided clearer instructions, & eventually built a truly amazing, supportive team that now allows me to focus on the strategic vision. The same principles apply at home.

• Reframing the "I Don't Know How" Objection: If the objection is about lack of competence in a specific task (& let's be honest, how many of us really enjoy scrubbing the toilet?), approach it as a learning opportunity. Just like you would train new hires in your business, provide clear instructions, offer support, & celebrate their progress as they learn to take on new responsibilities. Remember, it's not about perfection; it's about progress & shared responsibility.

From Overwhelm to Empowerment: The Power of Strategic Delegation

This isn't just about getting more help around the house; it’s about reclaiming your time, energy, & sanity. It’s about shifting from feeling constantly overwhelmed to feeling empowered & in control. It’s about modelling for your children – especially our daughters – what a strong, capable, & strategic leader looks like, both in business & at home. It’s about creating a more harmonious & balanced life for yourself & your entire family.

& remember, you might twist your ankle, but the difference is, you get back up again. You are not defined by what you lose but by what you survive, you’re defined by what you build & what you create. You’re defined by your vision.

Smallest viable step? Schedule that "family business meeting" today. Even if it feels a bit awkward at first (believe me, I get it!), open communication is the first step toward creating a more balanced & harmonious home.

If you're a Foundation Builder feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things on your plate, in both your business and your personal life, maybe it's time to assess your systems. As a Foundation Builder, you're juggling so much – from validating your business idea to attracting your first clients, all while managing the demands of life. Creating clear, efficient systems that allow you to work smarter, not just harder, is a game-changer. Our Launch Programme is specifically designed to help you, as a Foundation Builder, set up those essential business foundations – client intake, scheduling, basic marketing, and sales – freeing up time and mental space for everything else life throws your way. You can find out more about the Launch Programme & how it empowers Foundation Builders like you here.

Share your biggest delegation challenge in the comments below! Let's navigate this journey together. I can't wait to hear your delegation wins, and your hilarious fails - trust me, I've had plenty of those too!

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Carlene Nisbett

Founder & CEO, Femmeprenista (Coach, Mentor, Speaker)

Wife, Mother of four, Business Owner, PhD Researcher, Pet mom, Plant mom, 5'0" tall Passionate Multitasker & Wine Lover, You get the drift

P.S. This workbook is just the beginning!

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