Leadership practices play a crucial role for you as a first-time entrepreneur, as you’ll often approach crossroads where your actions as CEO are critical—not only to the success of your company but also to your freedom.
These crossroads are inevitable. However, over time, you can learn how to navigate them with skill and confidence.
As a successful small business owner with total freedom in my life, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is how to act as CEO when needed. It all boils down to these 3 leadership practices:
1. Delegating, even when it feels wrong.
Earlier today, I was looking at my company website thinking “Eurgh. This really needs updating but I can’t be bothered.”
All I really wanted to do was write this article. But the pull to fix up the website was strong.
The human on my left shoulder was saying “You know how to do this. You should write the copy and adapt the design yourself so you can save money.”
Then, the CEO on my right shoulder said “If you delegate this, you’ll free up your time to do marketing & sales, which you love and will actually grow the business.”
I was at a crossroads. Do I do what I “should” do and save money by spending my entire Sunday afternoon re-working my website? Or do I step into my CEO shoes and delegate?
I emailed my copywriter and designer/developer immediately to set up a meeting. And here I am: showing up in my business.
Does it feel totally wrong? Yep. Was it the right thing to do? Absolutely!
Rule #1: If you dislike doing something in your business (indicated by a “should”) and it doesn’t directly bring in revenue, delegate the sh*t out of it, no questions asked.
2. Staying true to your brand.
A few days ago, I had one final coaching session with a Prospology student before she graduated.
At the end of the call, I asked the student to provide some feedback on the program.
In hearing the way she talked about the company and what we do, I realized that this person not only 100% understands our brand but also fits with it.
I instinctively hired her, right there and then.
Was I looking to hire? No. But I visualized her seamlessly slotting into the Prospology Team and loved what I saw. I stayed true to our brand.
She was delighted by the offer (because it aligns with her values), and I know just how to utilize and appreciate her unique skillsets as we enter 2023.
Rule #2: If something feels like your brand, and perfectly matches the vision you have for your company, act on it immediately. If it doesn’t, let it go and move on.
3. Saying “no” a lot more often.
As a small business owner, I’m bombarded by cold email pitches and LinkedIn requests to watch this or join that, every day.
Just yesterday, I was sent a LinkedIn connection request by someone who said “If you accept my request, I’ll invite you to our monthly networking events”.
From the little information that was included in this initial outreach (not much), I could tell that this wasn’t a fit with my business model. But the person kept urging me to join.
Instead of pretending I was interested just to fob them off, I remained authentic and politely let them know this wasn’t a good fit for me.
After a bit of back and forth, they agreed that it wasn’t aligned. They joined my email newsletter and now have a better understanding of our company’s values and services.
What could have been an ignored connection request became a potential source of referrals, and a resource I can refer others to should I meet anyone who’d benefit from the events.
Rule #3: Saying “no” with confidence is just as important as saying “yes”. It helps people in your network become more familiar with your brand, so you can grow.
Next time you’re being pulled to do everything yourself, hit with a strong company vision, or approached by someone unexpectedly, implement these 3 leadership practices to ensure the success of your business and your freedom. Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks, stay true to your brand, and confidently assert yourself when necessary.
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