5 Ways to Be a Better Boss of You
“Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” ― William Faulkner
We talk a lot about managing our employees well, but not so much about how well we manage ourselves as leaders. Let’s remember to take time to reflect on how we might do better.
1. Confront your doubts and fears
It’s not uncommon for successful leaders to experience what is called the “imposter syndrome.” This condition refers to feelings of insecurity about one’s capabilities, despite having necessary qualifications for his or her role.
Left unaddressed, feelings of insecurity can cause a business leader to act in ways that impact employees negatively. Fortunately, this is a mindset issue and if you have experienced these feelings, there are several habits you can cultivate to handle your imposter syndrome. Assemble a body of evidence that will convince you without a doubt of your capabilities. Make a list of your achievement and successes – all the things that got you where you are today. Keep the list handy and reference it often, every day if necessary.
2. Be accountable
Just because you don’t have a boss doesn’t mean you don’t need to meet your job expectations. It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture if you’re in the weeds on a specific problem. Use a productivity system to keep on top of your responsibilities in all areas of your business.
Review your performance on a regular basis and keep track of your progress in areas you’ve identified as needing improvement.
3. Invest in professional development
Look for opportunities to improve your knowledge and expertise in your area of business through formal learning programs.
4. Strive for balance
Taking scheduled time off to be with your family and participate in activities other than your work will help you maintain your well-being and prevent burnout.
5. Know when to ask for help
You expect your employees to ask questions when they don’t have answers, but do you allow yourself that same luxury? If you get overwhelmed, do you feel like you have to solve all the problems yourself?
If you built up your own business, it takes practice learning to delegate work to others and admit you may not have all the answers.
The solution to the first issue is to delegate work to your employees. In the short term it will take time to train an employee to learn a new task, but in the long run you’ll free up time for yourself while increasing your employee’s sense of advancement.
Connecting with fellow business owners is a great way to build a support system. For some problems, a networking group or chamber of commerce will give you access to other leaders who may be able to offer solutions.
And, when you need one-to-one advice on a broad spectrum of business development, marketing and management issues, I’m here to guide you towards success and achieve the full potential of your business.
If you would like to learn more about how this might apply to your business, let’s talk: