There is no doubt running a small business is a tough gig and it can be a relentless journey that in many instances impacts both
ones physical and emotional well-being. Despite the huge sacrifices many small business owners make, the majority are totally
committed to their respective businesses and are ultimately driven by the immense satisfaction and rewards that comes from all their
hard work. To these brave people, the long hours and dedication to their customers is all part and parcel of following their dream of
running their own show and living life on their own terms.
Whilst the excitement of starting your own business is palpable, the reality of how much work is involved eventually sets in and
suddenly time becomes a luxury commodity. Then finally the hamster wheel picks up significant pace and the inevitable burnout
feeling starts to weigh you down.
This is when I hear some of you say: “it’s all just too hard” and the dream starts to fade away in
the distance. The irony is that many of you have already established a good business and are actually doing quite well or are in the
early stages of the business and have developed something commercially viable and are ready to go. But whether it is building it up
from scratch or managing a healthy customer database, similar feelings of being overwhelmed or the lack of control tend to erode
that initial mindset of complete excitement and passion.
It usually rears its ugly head when the realisation hits home that being a technical specialist in your area of expertise is simply no longer enough to run a smooth and successful business operation.
It becomes even more frustrating when everyone around you gives the same well-meaning advice that you need to start working “on”
rather than “in” your business. Yes, of course you know all that and better still, you completely agree – right? The problem is that it
sounds like you are going to have to invest a considerable amount of time and energy that you simply don’t have, to do just that –
learn all the facets of how to run a business like a general manager and the thought of that can sometimes feel daunting.
Well, I hear you loud and clear. So, I have decided to put together this report to demystify a few things for small business owners to
contemplate, with the aim of invigorating your strategic thinking processes and reduce your time stress in the long run. Before
rushing off to enrol in an expensive business course or blindly hiring an even more expensive consultant, I thought why not break it
down into the seven key areas that I believe are critical to success.
A solid generalist knowledge and perspective in these important domains will not only provide the clarity you need to move forward and get on the front foot, it will also help you develop the strategic insights to grow a sustainable business that supports the lifestyle you want and deserve.
So, Let’s get straight into it and discover the 7 key areas small businesses can focus on to improve performance:
LEADERSHIP
Leadership is probably one of the most researched topics in business management, and for very good reason I might add.
There is also no shortage of insightful information out there to help improve your leadership capability,
so the purpose of this section is to share my perspective and summarise some key ideas to consider as a small business owner or general manager.
Another important point to make is to try and not think of leadership as a finite skill to develop but more of an evolving personal development plan. I strongly believe that leadership is a craft that you need to practice on a regular basis and so it becomes part of your business routine. Here are three things worth considering:
LEAD YOURSELF FIRST
So the most important person to lead and manage first and foremost is yourself. Before you can earn the right to lead others, I believe you need to develop a minimum baseline of self-awareness to be qualified to do so. So this taps into the broader emotional intelligence compartment of understanding your strengths and weaknesses, what makes you tick and what core values you are not willing to compromise on.
The ability to manage your emotions, especially during times of stress, conflict or uncertainty is another fundamental imperative to improve self-leadership. Whilst this journey of self-discovery can often be confronting for many, it is a real opportunity to provide clarity and focus on achieving your business and life goals. Seeking support from a trusted professional to help guide you through this process is a noble undertaking and there are many credible resources available to enhance self-efficacy. What I tend to find though, is that many people I know, miss the first step of starting with being kind to themselves just as they would behave toward someone else they care about.
INFLUENCING OTHERS
Tip number 2: Influencing others really love the phrase, “reading the room”, as it kind of gives off this inferred meaning of having a superpower or like a sixth sense that can be deployed to solve or diffuse any problem. While I think there is some truth to that, calling it a superpower goes a bit too far. Much has been said on how to lead and influence others and so I have no intention of reinventing the wheel in this report.
What I will say is that it doesn’t have to be overly complicated to apply some basic principles to engage with others and earn their trust. I suggest starting with showing an interest in those you manage by asking powerful questions and being present in the moment by actively listening. Build your empathy muscle and don’t be afraid to show a little vulnerability from time to time. Just be real for goodness sake!
MENTAL FITNESS
Perhaps I have saved the best for last. Drawing from sporting days many moons ago, being mentally tough or having a “big match” temperament is something that has been drilled into me from a young age. The big buzzwords like resilience and perseverance cannot be overstated but we all know it is easier said than done, especially when in the midst of making those hard leadership decisions.
The more nuanced factors at play here, are those ingrained self-limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging behaviours that hold us back and makes climbing the mountain feel impossible at times. Introducing you to these ideas in a short paragraph is as far as I can go in this forum, but try having a go at challenging your current thinking a little more and bring an element of curiosity into your worldview. See what happens.
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