There are a lot of people who want to start a business. Not all of them are going to do it. Not all of them who it should. At least, not before they understand what’s going to be required of them. A business needs a lot more than a great product or service to be successful. It needs someone prepared to take the helm. If you’re wondering whether or not you’re the right person, ask yourself if you’re any of the people below.
The Businessperson
The businessperson is the leader that gets down to brass tacks and knows how to turn their concepts into reality. They have the principles of what it takes to take a product or service to market, to manage their resources, and organize the efforts of the business. They have the administrative side of business locked down so that the team isn’t getting tripped up by errors in organization. Nowadays, it’s easier to build this business acumen with classes being offered online. The use of time, money, and other resources in a business will directly contribute to how easy it can profit. Without a focus on the “business” side of the business, you’ll find it hard to keep afloat.
The Visionary
Some aren’t driven just by the numbers, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. Every business needs to have a sense of spirit in it. It needs to know the grand aims of the business. This is where most business ideas come from, in the beginning. From a sense of creativity that sees a problem and knows exactly how to solve it. The visionary is also an important component in finding the brand identity of the business. They find the path ahead and dictate the values that the business holds most dear, including the all-important value proposition.
The Leader
Just like you need someone who can find the way forward, you also need someone who can lead others down that trail. The leader is all about the people. They create the corporate culture. They do this by focusing on employee productivity, motivation, wellbeing, and happiness. For instance, they are important in setting the goals for individual employees. When giving people aims, they don’t just give them targets but they contextualize them in how those aims contribute to the overall success of the business. They manage employees effectively. They put in place policies and processes that allow conflicts to be resolved with as little fuss or harm done to all parties as possible. A leader knows that the people in the business are the most important resource of all.
The Advocate
The advocate knows that the people in the business aren’t the only ones that matter. These kinds of business owners are the ones that know how to apply the brand most effectively, focusing on finding the target market and ensuring that all marketing methods are aimed directly at them. The advocate isn’t afraid to be the face of the business. At trade shows, at networking events, with important clients, and in public relations opportunities, they are there to speak for their brand, their team, their products, and their services. Nowadays, that kind of public advocacy is becoming more and more important. That’s why many business leaders join groups like Toastmasters International to improve their public speaking and presentation abilities. A sense of charisma and interpersonal fortitude can be developed through plenty of practice.
The Organizer
The businessperson manages resources, the leader manages people. The organizer manages efforts. They know how to structure a company so that the individual processes all fit together in a much more efficient package. This is known as working on the business, not in it. For instance, they spot the methods and tools that are slowing certain employees down and surgically fix it by finding a more efficient replacement. They dictate the means of communication and information sharing in the business to make sure as little is lost as possible. They look at the overall workflow, see where they can speed it up, how they can avoid bottlenecks, and keep it working like a lean machine.
Which kind of person should you be? The answer: all of the above and more. The business owner has to be ready to wear many hats. It’s a big responsibility and if you’re not ready to face it yet, devote yourself to getting there. Further your education. Practice essential skills. Get experience in management and leadership roles. You’ll get there if you put in the work.
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