For many of us, launching a business is a dream come true. The idea of seeing your vision put into reality can be an exciting yet nerve-racking time.
Whether you are going to be a one-person show or have multiple employees, you are now going to be the leader.
As a leadership developer and strategist, I love helping entrepreneurs and small-business owners develop the skills they can use to maximize success.
Leadership
Leadership sets the tone and direction of your organization. Having a clear vision and mission for your business will help you to make decisions that align with your vision.
Clearly defining your core values can help you filter out opportunities as they present themselves.
Now that you have a vision and core values in line for the business, it is time to develop yourself as the leader worth following.
The continued personal development of leadership skills and discipline will put you in a position to make the hard calls and overcome the stress that can come with the title of leader.
You’ll discover many opportunities for growth as a leader including mentorship and a commitment to lifelong learning. Strive every day to hold yourself to the highest standards. A mindset of excellence will serve you well in your new role.
Challenges Ahead
Leaders who prepare for challenges are more apt to overcome them. No matter what type of business you are starting in this ever-changing and expanding environment, you are bound to face challenges.
Having the mindset that allows you to face these challenges strategically by preparation instead of reaction will put you in a position to overcome them. Here are some easy techniques that you can do to prepare.
Sleep Optimization
There can never be enough said for optimizing your sleep. A new business can be very time intensive, and you may feel the need to burn that midnight oil.
Making sure that you get a good night’s sleep will not only make you more effective and detail oriented during your waking hours, but sound sleep will also give you more emotional reserve.
Emotional reserve will help you stay calm during stressful interactions and allow you to be strategic in your decision-making.
Lack of sleep can also lead to a decrease in judgment—and thus making decisions becomes harder.
Morning Plan
Start your morning with a plan and a simple ritual that gets your mind and body ready to win.
How you start your morning can easily affect the rest of your day. If you’re feeling frazzled and rushed in the morning, you may feel off center and unsure of yourself the rest of the day.
A quick workout and a short meditation can prime your mind for success. Give yourself time in the morning to be calm and organized so you can stay that course throughout the day.
Daily Reflection
Develop a discipline for daily reflection. This is a lost art in our busy world of distraction; nonetheless, this simple ritual can be highly effective.
Reflection and self-evaluation are not to be confused with meditation or de-stressing. The practice of reflection is a time to review and evaluate interactions and decisions that have been made throughout the day.
When evaluating interpersonal interactions, make sure to try and see the situation from the perspective of the other people who were involved.
- Was the interaction with a subordinate or an equal?
- Were your responses even-tempered and well received?
- What did you handle well in the interaction?
- What could be improved in the interaction?
The ability to slow down and review events that happen throughout the day will train you to respond strategically and to refrain from reaction.
Walk through the interaction and determine how you could improve. This type of self-evaluation will help you in your next interaction.
The daily practice of self-evaluation and reflection will serve you well in your development as a leader.
When you are ready to take this practice to the next level, make sure to find a mentor or coach who will challenge you to be your best self. The constant practice in self-improvement and evaluation will allow you to grow as a leader.
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