As small business owners, we tend to know a little about every part of running a business. This isn’t a bad thing, but we can often get bogged down in running our business and all the associated tasks. We end up losing sight of what it was we actually went into business for the very thing we’re good at and love doing!
Can you remember what you like doing? Can you remember what you went into business for? Often, we end up doing tasks simply because we have to, rather than focusing on what we’re actually good at regardless of whether that task is actually one of our real strengths or weaknesses.
Why is this so important? Well, in order for your business to thrive, you need to be focused on growing your business and that means doing more of what you’re good at and less of what you’re not.
Establish what you’re good at
Grab a pen and a piece of paper and make a list of what you consider your strengths. Here’s some questions to get you started (but only write down what you’re good at AND like doing!):
- What skills and qualifications do you have?
- What you do better than other people?
- What do others praise you for?
- What connections and equipment do you have?
- What values do you believe in?
- What comes easy to you?
- What do you want to be known for?
Establish your weaknesses
Once you’ve written down your strengths, let’s get down your weaknesses again, here’s some questions to get you started:
- What do you avoid, put off and generally procrastinate over?
- What do others see and comment on as your downside?
- What would you consider as a weakness in your character?
- What irritates and annoys you about others and the work environment?
- What tasks do you hate doing?
Own both your strengths and your weaknesses
When it comes to growing your business, you want to focus on your strengths list and those things you like doing. This doesn’t mean you can totally avoid the things on your weaknesses list but you CAN decide whether a) you NEED to be doing those things and b) if it?s YOU that needs to be doing them!
The key is to own both your strengths AND your weaknesses. The aim is to become known for your strengths. You can decide whether you want to work on your weaknesses and turn them into strengths, or if you want to outsource the related tasks, to someone who has the relevant skillset and strengths to do them justice.
Remember, having a weakness doesn’t make you a lesser person, nor does it necessarily hinder your career. By owning both sides of your personality you are honouring both and THIS will make you a better business woman and will help your business to flourish, as a result.
How do you feel about your strengths and weaknesses? Were you already aware of them, or did you find some surprises? What would you consider your number one strength and how can you highlight this more in your business? Why not share your surprises and plans in the comments box below.