Entrepreneurs, no matter what sector they operate in, can generally be defined by a handful of shared characteristics – being independent, optimistic, creative and fiercely ambitious. And while these are all vital ingredients to have the belief and tenacity needed to launch your own business, there are also some flip sides to possessing this mix of attributes.
One of the most damaging can be trouble accepting help from others. The innate competitiveness, determination and progress-focused mindset that enables success in business can also make business leaders feel as if turning to others for support is a form of weakness, or that they always have a better solution to any problem themselves. And when you’re overwhelmed with all the day to day decision making and concerns of running your own operation, it can be even harder to step back and see the bigger picture when it comes to where you need some outside help. However, entrepreneurs can reap many benefits from accepting help – here are just a few.
Learning to Delegate
You start your business with an intention to grow it – and that will necessarily involve handing over responsibility for different areas of focus. As you start out, you become a jack of all trades, involved in every single decision. Some you will be expert on, others you’ll muddle your way through. And as exhausting as being the sole person in charge is, the sense of control can also be quite addictive. So for many small business owners, when you reach the point of growth where you need to hand over control of some areas to others, that can be a hard challenge. By accepting help where it is offered from the beginning, you train yourself to see your business as a collaborative entity that is improved by diverse perspectives.
Keeping You Running
As the engine behind your business, you are under a lot of strain. Many small business owners experience burnout due to the high stakes and the pressure to succeed they’re under. And when you hold all the strings, something like that can be disastrous for your company. By spreading the load, you are actually minimizing the risk to your own mental and physical health and protecting your business interests. Don’t be afraid to reach out for support, either personal or professional. Just as you would appoint a leading accident attorney to assist you in reaching a resolution in court, identifying professionals that can help your business progress – such as using a business coach – can be of real benefit.
Gaining New Perspectives
When you only have one perspective in a business, you run the very real risk of developing significant blind spots – in your strategy, your product design or service offering, and in your marketing and communications. Inviting help means getting fresh views on your company and what you do. Having our ideas challenged is always helpful – it either reaffirms what we believe or gives us the opportunity to adapt and grow. That responsiveness and willingness to change and accommodate new ideas is what sets businesses with longevity apart. So simply asking for help could really give your business a new dimension.
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