Running a small business requires more than just a great idea – it requires leadership. While you may not be a natural-born leader, you can cultivate the skills you need to lead effectively. Whether you have one employee or 100 employees, good leadership sets you on the path to growth and success. Here are seven skills to improve your small business leadership and take you to new heights:
1. Be a Good Listener
Great leaders listen to their employees and customers. You never know if those great ideas could give your business a step up. Don’t forget to show them a little love by thanking them or giving them credit.
2. Communicate With Your Team
One of the best ways to avoid disgruntled employees and a dysfunctional team is to communicate clearly with everyone. Always keep your employees in the loop and ensure they understand what’s expected of them. It never hurts to give them insight into the bigger picture so they understand your vision and goals, and know what they’re working towards.
3. Don’t Be Afraid To Make Mistakes
Nobody’s perfect. It’s impossible to run a business without making mistakes, and great leaders understand that. Part of being an entrepreneur is learning how to rebound from these mistakes, which is what really counts.
4. Surround Yourself With Smart, Talented People
As a business leader, it’s essential to build a well-rounded team. You must understand your own strengths and weaknesses, and surround yourself with individuals who possess the skills you lack.
5. Be Willing To Delegate
Surrounding yourself with smart, talented people is pointless if you don’t let them do their jobs. Your business is your pride and joy, but if you’re never willing to give up any control, it will never reach its full potential. There’s only so much you can do on your own. You hired a team for a reason, delegate tasks that align with their strengths.
6. Have a Vision
Where do you want your company to be five years from now? A good leader is always visualizing the future. Think about what you want for your company and create a plan that will help you achieve it. If you aren’t planning or setting goals, your business will get stuck where it is today.
7. Hold Yourself and Others Accountable
Accountability is important in all businesses. You must set clear expectations for what you want out of you and your employees. Then, you have to hold everyone accountable, including yourself, for the results that are produced. This also means admitting when you’ve made a mistake.
Small Business BC is Here to Help
SBBC is a non-profit resource centre for BC-based small businesses. Whatever your idea of success is, we’re here to provide holistic support and resources at every step of the journey. Check out our range of business webinars, on-demand E-Learning Education, our Talk to an Expert Advisories, or browse our business articles.