One of the most important initial considerations you have as a new business owner is to understand the characteristics of a business. Would it surprise you to know that your business will take on many of your personal characteristics? After all this time and experience spent with business owners, I can tell you it is often the case.
“Oh my goodness, that’s not such a good thing!”
It is a fine thing. It is definitely something that you need to recognize and deal with, that is for sure. One of the approaches I have used very effectively is to initially get you, the new business owner, to do a personal profile that captures what you believe is true about yourself.
It is necessary to assess your strengths and weaknesses. It is not easy, sometimes, for us to claim them; but very important to acknowledge them.
Capitalize on your strengths, address your weaknesses. You can do that by making sure that you have the appropriate support in place so that your business achieves that all-important level of expertise.
I frequently have students who tell me that they are now going to do bank reconciliations for their business accounts, even though they have not done so for their personal checking account. REALLY?? I would say that is very unlikely to get done by them, and even if it does, will likely be inadequate. If it is adequate, it will likely have taken much too long to prepare and be the last priority. So what is the answer? The answer is to have someone in your organization that does that task, so you can do the things you are very good at.
“What about control?” I know! I am really into controlling everything myself! Knowing what to control is key here, so let’s just say that you are going to delegate, not abdicate. That means that you have someone who loves to do that kind of work perform those tasks, but you are never going to give up full control. You have the last word, and the final approval. You just don’t have to grind that task out when you have tasks to perform you enjoy doing. You, as the owner, have far greater energy to do “your tasks” and it keeps you away from being dragged down by the tasks that are not your strengths. Everybody wins; and that is a positive track to pursue!