There is no question that operating a small business requires long hours, hard work and many talents. But, in my business coaching practice, I find that women entrepreneurs are more likely trying to fill more roles than their male counterparts. I ask you "Are you wearing too many hats in your small business?"

Now I know that you are probably thinking that I am going to blog all about how many roles women play as entrepreneur, wife, mother, taxi driver, cook, nurse, house cleaner, scheduler, entertainer, organizer, travel agent and all around family cheerleader, BUT, in this blog that is the least of my worries. I am focused here on what you as a woman entrepreneur are undertaking in your business that is holding you back. Let me give some examples so you can see if you have the problem.

First, I recently met with a potential client in the consulting business. As I typically do in an interview, I asked her to tell me about a typical day in the life of her business. I find that I learn a lot about a business in just understanding what happens throughout the day. She began by telling me that most days she goes to the office first to make sure that there is nothing that needs her attention there - meaning checking in on others on her team - and then proceeds to her first consulting client. If it was a short meeting she would have time to stop by the office supply store and pick up some needed supplies and perhaps even have time to pick up lunch for the office after calling to see if anyone needed anything. On the best days, she would get back to the office by 12:30 have lunch, check her messages, check the mail and make a deposit if some of her clients had sent payment. While in QuickBooks making a deposit, she would write out any invoices that needed payment and make sure the books were in order. She was proud to tell me that she actually was a high energy person in the afternoon so she made her return calls and any follow up prospect calls between 2:00 and 3:00 o'clock. The other consultants on her staff generally got back in the office by 4:00 at which time they had a quick office meeting to connect the dots on the day. This meeting often lasted to 5:30 or so at which point most of the staff was more than ready to leave for the day. Of course, that left her with the last minute checking of messages, particularly those on her computer which she had unfortunately neglected for far too long. Now, I could go on here and tell you how much information she shared with me on the other days of the week where she felt even more overwhelmed than on this described day. But, I think you get the picture. Do you?

Read that last paragraph over again and ask yourself if you see yourself anywhere in this description. Hopefully with close inspection you can easily see how this woman entrepreneur is wasting her time with skills better suited for someone else. Would you be surprised if I told you that this woman is sought after as a consultant by some very large and impressive companies? The point is the first step for any entrepreneur in business is to spend her time doing what she does best. The reason this woman's business is doing well is because she is very good at what she does - consulting. The reason this woman's business isn't growing is because she is spending too much of her time doing what someone else could be doing.

Yes, I know well that entrepreneurs like holding the reigns of their companies tight and close. But, to grow your business you must find the right people to do the right jobs for you so that you can spend time doing what you do best. I have worked with women entrepreneurs who know that their best talents are in operations and others who know sales are their strength. Many women's businesses get started because the entrepreneur is a natural marketer and networker and others because their financial savvy is sought after by others. But, when entrepreneurs spend their time micromanaging others or insisting on being part of every detail in their organization they lose the opportunity to let others meet the challenge of their abilities.

So, the moral of the story for women entrepreneurs is to wear the hat that fits you the best. Learn to delegate and trust that others can and will wear the hat that fits them best. None of us can be the best at everything and that is a lesson we too often learn the hard way.