Let’s be absolutely clear about one thing… You’re awesome. Your dedication to your business, your employees, and your customers are second to none. The painstakingly meticulous quality control you exert over your output, the rigorous training you give your employees and the way you work tirelessly to ensure that your each and every customer gets the same standard of first class service from your business is eminently laudable. But there’s just one thing that may be holding you back. One thing that’s keeping your business from the true greatness to which it aspires…
You!
Despite all of your hard work and noble intentions (or even in some ways because of them), you could end up becoming the biggest stumbling block to your business’ success. Here’s how…
You don’t trust your employees
You like your employees. You believe in your employees. You took great pains when recruiting your employees to ensure that you were getting the very best… But in your heart of hearts, whether you realize it or not, you don’t trust your employees with your business as much as you should. You have a tendency to hover over them and in some cases you’ve caught yourself micromanaging. You just want to show them that you’re a helpful and supportive boss but as well-meaning, as you may be, you’re actually impeding their development if you don’t allow them to find ways to make your processes their own or make and learn from their mistakes.
You’re putting your attention in all the wrong places
It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to become confused about exactly what their own role is in their company. They have so many plates to spin that they’re not sure where their focus truly belongs. This can lead them to spend a little too much time at the coalface with their employees, engrossing themselves in the operational aspects of their business rather than staying in their office.
You don’t have to be the kind of inaccessible boss locked in their ivory tower you hated when you worked in your salaried job but it behooves you to think hard about where your attention belongs. You should be parsing your business’ performance metrics and using them to influence your business strategy. If you spend too much time on the shop floor with your employees you will miss out on this valuable insight and won’t see the woods for the trees.
You’re wary of the people who can help you the most
You care deeply about your business and have your own very specific way of doing things… And that’s okay. But don’t let your business idiosyncrasies become a rod for your back. Don’t be afraid to get outsourced help because you worry that a third party service provider won’t “get” you.
Managed IT Services, HR consultation, and Digital Marketing agencies can all be of tremendous value to your business. They will work collaboratively with you to find solutions for your business would be harder and more expensive to handle alone.
Perfectionism is admirable, but if you allow it to, it can lead you to some bad habits that actually prove detrimental to your SME.