If you start a project alongside your studies or work in a small business, your to-do list often grows faster than you expect. Managing social media, writing invoices, keeping the website up-to-date, and before you know it, there's not enough time in the day. At this point, it makes sense to think about what you're doing yourself and what others could take over. Making an informed decision will save you time, stress, and, in the long run, money. Smaller businesses and startups, in particular, have various options here.

Distribute tasks within your own team

Some things are easier to solve than they first appear. Student assistants, interns, or freelancers from your network often bring exactly the know-how you need. So, if you organize tasks like research, community management, or initial presentation drafts internally, you'll save time and simultaneously build trust within the team.

Especially during your studies, you'll make many contacts with motivated people who possess specific expertise. You should leverage this strength, because clearly structured tasks, a short onboarding period, and a few collaboration tools are usually enough to develop internal solutions. It helps to schedule regular meetings so everyone stays on the same page. Furthermore, a clear division of tasks ensures that no one is overwhelmed and creates an environment where learning and working go hand in hand.

Outsourcing complex tasks effectively

As soon as things get technically complex, for example with IT issues, accounting, or legal questions, hiring external support is exactly the right step. Trying to cobble together a tax return yourself, for instance, causes more stress than it's worth. Tax offices, agencies, and freelancers specialize in precisely these areas, and you can bring them in as needed for individual projects or tasks without necessarily entering into long-term contracts.

The key is to clearly define your goal and realistically assess your own capabilities. For many small businesses, this combination of internal commitment and targeted support is the right model. This combination leads to greater efficiency and enables noticeable cost savings for SMEs without compromising quality or control.

Plan and prioritize tasks correctly

It's tempting to accomplish as much as possible in a short amount of time; this is especially true if you're motivated to build your own project. However, this is precisely where bottlenecks often arise, because the more accurately you know how much time and energy you have available, the better you can prioritize tasks .

Focus on things you're good at or want to learn. Everything else can, or rather should, be delegated. Otherwise, you'll waste time on topics you're not good at.

A clear division of roles also ensures that you focus on the essentials and don't get bogged down in details. Prioritizing tasks by urgency and importance and scheduling fixed time slots for them is also helpful. Use simple tools or to-do lists to keep track of everything.

Achieving more together, even during your studies

Students bring many skills that are often lacking in small teams. Whether technical skills, business knowledge, or creative ideas, these can be quickly put to active use in the right environment. Bringing others on board creates a working style that can be flexibly adapted to your university life.

In practice, this works particularly well when tasks are clearly defined and discussed regularly. Tools like Notion, Slack, or Miro help maintain an overview, even when everyone isn't working in the same room. This creates structure, reduces the need for follow-up questions, and keeps everyone involved in the project on the same page.

Outsourcing does not mean relinquishing responsibility

External help provides relief, but it doesn't replace the responsibility for the big picture. You remain the one who decides the direction. That's why it's essential to assign tasks effectively and regularly review the results. This is the only way to keep your project on track, whether it's a small start-up, an internship, or your first business .

It's not about all or nothing; it's about combining things cleverly. Use your own strengths, bring others from your network into the team, and seek help where experience truly matters. This way, you'll progress without overextending yourself and develop a company that's the best possible fit for you.

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