You are a business owner. A crafter. An artist. A designer. A problem solver.
You are a jack of all trades. Or maybe a master of one.
You are an entrepreneur. An idea person. A executor.
But are you willing to be a leader?
This week, I feel like I’ve been spinning my wheels a bit. Not because my success is not real to me, but because others remarkableness is in front of me all day, every day. I want what they have. I want to do great things and start movements. I want to create fresh ideas and share them with the masses.
And then it hit me. I want to be a leader.
Of course, this is not really new to me. I’ve always been a leader. I always led group projects in school (yeah, I was that kid – but you already knew that). I was drum major of my high school & college marching bands. I led worship. I led college clubs. I was a leader at my old job.
I believe I have been leading with my business throughout the last 2 years. That’s been one of the keys to my success. But it took one of those light bulb moments to realize that this is what I’ve been doing and it’s what I really need to own.
But I wonder if you’re willing to lead with your business?
Are you willing to take on a few followers? Are you willing to direct your customers’ actions? Are you willing to provide leadership for your brand?
Many of the small business owners I talk to want to sit back & solve problems. They want to help people and make their lives more beautiful. But they’re not ready to step up and lead with their business.
Leadership isn’t necessarily marching at the front of the parade. It’s about owning what you do, who you are, and what you’re capable of. It’s also about being clear on where you’re going, building trust with your market so that they’ll come along for the ride. And bring their friends.
Leadership is about communication & consistency so people feel safe in your tribe.
But most importantly, leadership is trusting that you have solutions to your followers’ problems. You have to own it. Building a successful business is difficult if you don’t “own” your ability to solve problems & lead people. I’m not sure it’s even possible. You know, you never hear announcer guy say “We’re the following car dealership in the the county!”
So are you willing to lead with your business? Are you willing to lead with the solutions you have? Are you willing to lead with your fresh perspective & ideas? If you are, I want to hear from you! If not, I want to know what’s holding you back.
{image credit: FaceMePLS}
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Great post Tara!
I was soooo that kid too. back then some people called it “bossy”, and well now sometimes too…but I’m okay with being the “boss”. hehehe.
Yes, leading my business is all about consistency and communication. having a strong belief in what I am doing, where i’m going, what i’m capable of. and Risk! it so comes down to risk some days…..so easy to stay in fear….i’ve been frozen there at moments in my life and business…but i’m never one to stay there, i risk, sometimes it doesn’t work out and i learn something new, many times it does work and it feels incredible.
Patsy.
This is such a fantastic post. I have been thinking on this topic lately. Or more like this topic has been finding me a lot lately. Why do we as artist hide from leadership? Perhaps because art and making a living as an artist is so very subjective? I, like you, Tara have always been a leader in most everything I do. Yes, I was for sure that kid too. Captain of this and that, organizer (even to those who did not want to be organized), etc. However, sometimes when it comes to my current line of work feel myself thinking well, what do I know? Am I really equipped to give someone else who is just starting out advise? I know this must sound silly, but this is truly how the inner dialog goes sometimes. I am so thrilled with the things I have accomplished in a short time, and the things that are coming around the corner. I believe firmly in leading by example, but I am also getting more comfortable with leading in a more direct sense.
I’ve been thinking about this post all afternoon.
The answer I came up with is yes and no.
I was “that kid” in school too. More often than not I found myself taking leadership roles for group projects. When I was little, I’d often be the one “directing” whatever game my friends and I played.
But that came more from a need for control than, say, confidence in my ability to lead. Especially the group project thing: I didn’t want to leave my grades in someone else’s hands. I wanted to make sure I knew what everyone was doing and where things stood, so if someone wasn’t pulling their weight I would know ahead of time and could pick up the slack.
I’m good at taking control. But being a leader is more than taking control. It’s also about being able to delegate. And delegating means letting go of control to some degree. AND taking responsibility if things go wrong, even if you weren’t directly responsible for it. Eek.
Also, because my previous leadership experience came not from confidence in my leadership abilities, but from a fear of not being in control and a fear of failure (at least when it came to the school projects), I just plain don’t have that confidence in myself as a leader. I’m *willing* to lead with my business, but I’m scared that out here, in the real world where it’s about more than a grade, I might not be as good at it.
Aaahhh get out of my brain! I was just going to type something like this.
I was definitely that kid, but like you, it’s so hard to delegate and let go. In my personal and professional life, that is definitely where I struggle most. I’d rather do it all myself and fail than risk giving something over to someone else, even if we succeed because of it.
Perhaps, in typing that, I’ve just had a bit of a eureka moment.
Woah.
Thanks!
Tara,
You have no idea how much I needed this post today! I just totally stepped outside my comfort zone to start a new kind of project. Its one it believe in and something that is a new income stream for me if my new customers ( people I’ve never tried to reach before) are trusting enough to come along for this journey. I too have been a leader, sort of by default, for much of my life. I’m choosing the role now because I know it’s how I can make the most impact for my customers and myself.