Small businesses don’t grow by themselves. Of course, that’s why you’re expanding. But stepping up to a management role requires a new and unique set of abilities.
Sheer determination will only take you so far. For this next phase of growth, exceptional communication and an intuitive ability to respond to difficult situations are needed. A manager is not only responsible for their personal growth, but the triumphs and failures of the wider team.
This can be a huge milestone for your business and an exciting opportunity to demonstrate leadership. So, are you ready to step up? And what if you aren’t, then what should you do? If you struggle with your confidence or are unable to manage your workflow, then maybe it’s best to hold off.
This isn’t a failure on you, just another part of your career journey. In the long run, it can be better to take the extra time to train yourself to lead a team, before you take the plunge. Check out the 5 key signs that indicate you should hold off on an expansion for now.
Do You Question Yourself?
Managing a small business is risky. It’s normal to have moments of self-doubt, but if you spend most of your time criticizing and negatively reviewing your work then it could suggest a much larger problem.
As a team leader, you need to be positive and approachable. If your coworkers have a serious question, chances are they’ll look to you for an answer. While no professional can claim to know everything about a business, large gaps in your ability to deliver a confident answer will not inspire enthusiasm.
Individuals (more so than ever in startups) need to rely on each other and bounce off each other’s ideas. You will need to lead this open communication by example. If you question your ability to carry out tasks often, then it might be time to step back and review if you’re ready to manage.
Can You Be A Team Player?
Your business is your everything. How will you handle it when you need to share? Ambition is a fantastic attribute. It is what sets apart the good from the truly great, but like all things should be balanced. Your drive to succeed should never negatively impact another employee. Individual triumphs will mean less in the bigger picture if your entire team fails by comparison.
Often, leadership is described as a display of strength which is true. But behind every effective leader is a broad network of individuals working to achieve a common goal. Without this united support base, it is difficult for any business to thrive. If you are still too focused on your own career to take responsibility for others, you need to acknowledge this.
Do You Know Enough?
Questioning your own ability is a bad habit. Knowing very little about people management? Even worse. Best practice is to not walk into the situation blindly. Skill gaps and misunderstanding in the workforce is a prevalent problem, as education backgrounds continue to vary.
In this case, knowledge is power. Understand your role, business structure and brand pillars inside and out before you start recruiting as manager. This will boost your confidence and shape your professional character for an effective, trustworthy leader.
Adult learning is integral to career growth. Enrolling in adult education courses is a simple method to expand your knowledge and management style in a friendly environment. Adult education offers the chance to learn everything from project management to people skills. Cultivating an open mind is a great step for you—and will attract the right people to your business.
Do You Love What You Do?
I pour my passion and commitment into my job. I work longer hours and am willing to take on the extra responsibility because I love what I do. Getting through hard times requires vision and determination, so if this doesn’t sound like you, it might be time to adjust your career pathway first.
Small businesses are built on the dedication and ideas of their owners. If you can’t achieve a sense of pride and belonging at your job, how could an employee? This is a lesson that every manager will need to learn before agreeing to a higher level of responsibility and commitment.
Do You Have Enough Time?
Work life balance isn’t always split half and half. It will mean something different to every professional. I might be happy to spend the weekend buried in spreadsheets, but if my coworkers prefer to spend time at their hobbies, should I be understanding of this?
Similarly, if you don’t have the time to recruit, train and retain your employees then maybe it’s best to step back from the recruitment process for now. The primary role of a manager is to guide, instruct and manage the employees of the business.
No decision is set in stone here. But giving up even more time could encourage you to resent your job or force an unwanted compromise. Stepping up to manage a small business is a tough gig. Challenging, new and like most things in life, it needs to come at the right time for you.
Author: Helen Sabell works for the College for Adult Learning, she is passionate about adult and lifelong learning. She has designed, developed and authored many workplace leadership and training programs, both in Australia and overseas.
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