Landon initiated an energetic conversation about delegation, using his own experiences and those of other surveyors as examples. He recounted a story about a friend who was so behind on billing that he was losing money, highlighting the importance of knowing when to delegate tasks. The group discussed why delegation is vital for business owners, pointing out that it enables them to focus on their strengths and avoid getting stuck in areas where they are less skilled. Landon also touched on the tendency to overhire after the first employee, and the need to find a good balance. The discussion continued with the question of what tasks to delegate first, with some suggesting administrative tasks before technical ones. However, others, including Landon, started with technical staff. Landon described his personal experience of discovering what to delegate by hiring people who excelled at specific tasks and letting go of those he wasn’t as good at.

The group also explored the difficulties of knowing when to delegate and the tasks that are hardest to let go of. Landon mentioned how his partner reminds him to concentrate on high-value tasks and avoid getting caught up in lower-value ones. He stressed the importance of paying attention to work-life balance and sleep as indicators that it may be time to delegate. Other participants contributed their experiences, including a surveyor who involves a new employee in the estimating process, which was a different approach that Landon found interesting. The group also talked about making the scope of services and fee estimates available to all employees, and how that promotes greater awareness and understanding.