28 Aug Can You Kick the Entrepreneur Addiction?
In business, especially as the business owner, you are THE expert. After all, you should be, you started it and likely know the ins and outs of what you do better than anyone. Over the course of the years, you’ve had to be the jack of all trades to make sure everything got done, on time, and the right way — the first time.
But, if you’ve done it right, there will come a time when you aren’t the only person steering the ship. Then what?
When you hire your first employee, or have to delegate your first big project to your team, you have to learn quickly to give up control.
This doesn’t mean that you throw caution to the wind and give your employees free rein. However, in order for your team to feel confident and supported in their work, it will require you to be able to delegate, step back, and allow them to execute.
If giving up control and enabling your teams to perform is hard for you, then you may be suffering from Founder’s Syndrome.
Over my 18 year career as an entrepreneur, I get it. Learning how to delegate and support your employees as they work to grow your mission is a challenge and definitely an acquired skill.
And, if you’re like most entrepreneurs, we’re scattered brained at time (me included). We have so many ideas, some competing with each other, that when we start to share them, we may seem so all over the place that it is impossible to follow our train of thought. Or worse, have any clue of what you’re supposed to be doing. Without clearly communicating your vision, your goals, and your expectations with your staff, it will be difficult for them to understand the “method to your madness”. You, as the founder, are constantly thinking of ways to evolve your business, and this is okay. In fact, it is likely what has allowed you to be successful thus far. The key to working effectively with others will be rooted in how you communicate.
To make the transition from doing everything for your business to allowing your teams to perform, you’ll have to make a mental shift from “what I have to do” to “what needs to get done”. When you focus on what has to be completed then you are able to delegate and not hoard everything for you to do. Otherwise, you have a job and not a business.
Your ultimate goal is to work on your business, not always being stuck working in your business. This week I challenge you to find one task that you do every day that you can delegate to someone else to do. With that extra time, spend it looking for one thing that you can do to improve your business.
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