You can delegate authority, but you can never delegate responsibility. Richard E Krafve

Do you know what kind of people generally go into business for themselves? They are the kind who can’t sit back and watch things happen. They have to be in the thick of the action. They want to make things happen, make decisions, change destinies, earn fortunes. Sometimes, and remember we are learning from my mistakes and experiences here, but sometimes the kind of people who want to start businesses are kind of impatient. Especially those who attempt to make too many changes at once, and take on more than one new business at a time.

And the difficulty of delegating in a situation like this is, if the business leader doesn’t have a clear idea what to do, then how on earth are they supposed to give direction to any one else. An insecure, direction-less leader is practically fatal to a fledgling organization.

Think about any situation in your life where you have looked to someone else for leadership or direction or guidance, when you rightly expected it, and failed to receive it. It is a very scary experience. And someone waiting for clear, delegated instructions, and not receiving them will feel equally at sea. The leader / business owner is struggling with a dozen variables that the other players aren’t even aware of, but that does not detract from the fact that the leadership provided is unclear, unsure, insecure and bad for business.

Right now as we are in the middle of this voluntary liquidation, the courts are too busy to appoint a liquidator. Decisions need to be made but no one will make those decisions, not creditors, nor landlords, nor attorneys – because no one will be held liable for the legal implications and everyone wants to wait for the liquidator. But someone has to say to the staff, “You go and find a new job. We will pay your retrenchment package to you.” “Please will you pack up these products and send them back.” “Please cancel this service because we cannot be in business any more.” “It is over people.”

It is my responsibility. I don’t get to delegate this part of the job. I am sorry. It is over people.

This blog is an exploration of the lessons I learned when my business failed. Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas, as well as your own experiences. It will eventually be published as a book – hopefully as a warning to new entrepreneurs to avoid some of these mistakes. Please see the first few posts as an introduction.