Scott Eblin, in his book The Next Level, makes some super suggestions for newly promoted managers. In this post, I take the liberty of adapting Scott’s advice for the benefit of new business owners and seasoned entrepreneurs.
Are you a person who works extra hard and gets things done? Have you always been fiercely self-sufficient? When you are ready to grow your business, it is time to build a team and let others do the work. You can get more done by supporting team members to use their skill sets and expertise in the functional roles that your business requires. For some owners, this requires a change of mindset.
The scope of work naturally expands with the growth of your business. Results are expected in more and more areas of expertise. In your crucial role as the business owner, your greatest results will come from using your genius abilities in the ways that maximize your value. How can you best perform that role? Delegate to others, so that you focus on tasks that only you can do.
Though you are ultimately accountable for the results of all who work on your behalf, your team will function best with clear goals and directions and the independence to use its expertise within the systems you’ve established. When you provide support, performance milestones and accountability, team members will figure out how to do the tasks using their expertise. You’ll get more done if you allow others to do what they do best.
There are tremendous benefits in learning from other entrepreneurs’ experience of what does and does not work in any given situation. You gain perspective and valuable insights by widening the scope of your radar beyond your own business model. Be open to the many resources available and network with others who have complementary business growth goals. Find a mentor. Be coachable. In this way, you can take a look at your company from the outside in.
Self-renewal is essential to be at your physical and mental prime. Adding more and more things to your own routine will surely lead to an eventual overload, so learn to set healthy boundaries and give yourself the time you need to recharge. Decide what is most important for you to do, focus on that and say “no” to all the rest.
The best way to ‘drive the bus’ is to give that job your full attention.
Julie Nierenberg
