Sometimes, when negatives seem to outweigh the positives for your budding business, you feel like you’ll never crawl out of your rut. What’s the best way to push forward? Face the problem head on.
Here are five ways to take action on your problems today:
1. Set smaller goals
You’re an entrepreneur — you’re capable of conceiving incredible, detailed plans. Your eyes are on the prize, and nothing’s going to stop you from reaching your goal. But keep in mind that your team may need smaller, obtainable goals to stay on track, rather than the grand vision.
Break your big-picture goals into weekly or monthly objectives instead, and share them with your team often. When everyone focuses on the same finish line, productivity skyrockets. You and your team will feel accomplished and refreshed instead of frustrated and lost.
2. Never stop learning
Yes, maybe you’re already brilliant, but there’s always more room in that massive brain of yours. Your mind is an infinite place, and you must feed your craft in order to grow.
Your market is constantly changing, and you have to stay flexible. Admit that you don’t know everything, and commit to never stop learning. As a first step, try signing up for a webinar or finding a professional mentor in your industry.
3. Implement the five-minute rule
Any problem that hangs over your head will crush you eventually. When you receive an unsettling email or phone call, don’t procrastinate on your response out of discomfort: the more you put it off, the larger the problem grows.
Don’t let minuscule stressors distract you. If something will take five minutes or less, knock it out immediately — that way, you can move on to big-picture tasks with a clear mind.
4. Openly communicate with your team
When business is hectic, team communication tends to fall to the wayside. If you find yourself wondering whether or not an employee is satisfied with his or her job, re-establish your communication habits. Instead of reacting to problems as they crop up, schedule a weekly meeting or call to hash out any roadblocks or concerns. This is especially important for those working together remotely.
5. Be kind to yourself
Pushing yourself towards your goals is great, but if you never take time for yourself , you’re dooming your ambitions to failure. Schedule “you time” every week — whether it’s a massage, a trip to the movies, or drinks with friends — and follow through with it. Don’t underestimate the power of being kind to your mind and body.
By: Jennifer Boutwell
Portland Business Journal
