In this episode of Build Your Business, Matt and Chris Reynolds unpack one of the biggest growth bottlenecks for entrepreneurs: perfectionism in delegation. Whether you’re stuck doing everything yourself, or micromanaging your team into frustration, they break down how to train well, build trust, and slowly transition from doer to leader. Learn the delegation ladder, avoid common delegation fails, and discover how to prioritize what truly matters in your business—without burning out or giving up control.

The Perfectionist’s Dilemma

Most business owners start by doing everything themselves. It’s efficient… until it’s not. Matt shares how perfectionism nearly broke his ability to scale—until he learned that effective delegation isn’t about lowering standards, but raising others to meet them.

Chris and Matt discuss the real reasons perfectionists struggle to delegate: fear of quality drops, ego attachment to output, and lack of trust. But without delegation, your business plateaus—and so does your freedom.

The Delegation Ladder: How to Build Trust, One Step at a Time

Effective delegation requires structured progression. The brothers introduce the “delegation ladder,” a 5-level framework that helps founders understand and implement stages of trust—from “do exactly what I say” to “own the outcome entirely.”

This isn’t theoretical—it’s a practical way to scale your business while keeping control where it matters. As your team moves up the ladder, you buy back time and energy to focus on how to prioritize what truly matters.

SOPs, Training, and the Myth of Perfect Systems

SOPs are essential—but not enough. Chris explains how standard operating procedures must be paired with consistent, hands-on training to work. It’s not just about handing off a Google Doc—it’s about walking with your team until they don’t need you.

The best SOPs are living documents. Matt shares how he updates SOPs through iteration, input from team members, and shared learning. This “delegate and refine” loop is how to prioritize what truly matters—by elevating people, not just systems.

The Mindset Shift: From Doer to Leader

Delegation isn’t just a tactic—it’s an identity shift. Matt reminds listeners: if someone on your team can do it at 80% of your level, you win. Multiplied across 5 or 10 employees, your output and freedom increase exponentially.

The hardest part? Letting go of control. But if you want to grow, you must choose between doing everything perfectly or building something bigger than yourself.

When Delegation Fails: Misfires, Mistakes, and Moving On

Matt and Chris don’t sugarcoat it: sometimes delegation fails. But most failures come from bad communication, misplaced hires, or holding on too long. If you’ve moved someone twice in the org chart? You’re afraid to fire them.

They offer candid advice on what to do when someone just doesn’t get it—how to diagnose whether it’s a training issue or a hiring mistake. And how to exit well when it’s the latter.