Have you ever wished that your business could manage without you while you got on with your important meetings and traveling to trade shows? Or would you love to be able to go on vacation and not be called every day because someone has a question about something that only you can answer? If that’s the case, you need to build a business that runs without you, just like many successful entrepreneurs such as Jordan Goldenberg have done. It may sound like you’re making yourself redundant, but that’s not the case.
Having a business that runs without you means that you can step back when you want to – when you need to – and not have to worry about losing out on any revenue while you’re away or returning to find that nothing got done because everyone was waiting for your approval. Does it seem like an impossible dream? Don’t worry; you can do it.
Make Your Employees Invested In The Company
If you want your employees to work well and professionally when you’re not there, it’s a good idea to make sure they care about the company. If they care and are invested, they will work hard no matter what. If they just aren’t bothered about the outcome or whether the business thrives or fails, they probably won’t do very much at all if you’re not there to steer them (and watch them intently).
Fostering a culture of ownership in the company is the best way to keep everyone interested. This could mean giving your employees shares or making sure they are all listed on the website, and all have a part to play. You could ensure you praise them and reward them when they do something right. These things can all make employees feel like they have a little ownership over the company, which will entice them to work much harder and more successfully.
Get A Good Manager
Having a good manager as your right-hand man or woman can ease the pressure you have put on yourself as a business owner. This is the person who will deal with the staff’s issues and questions, leaving you to run the business and work on it, rather than in it. Finding a good manager could take some time – you’ll need someone who is good with people but who is also authoritative. Ideally, they should understand the sector you’re working in, although this is not as high on the list of requirements as you might think. That information can be learned, but managing people and bringing the best out in them is something that not everyone can do.
Take your time to find the right manager for your company, and you’ll see that you can step back and let them look after the more mundane aspects of the business. You might even get to take that vacation you’ve been longing for.
Don’t Make It About You
The biggest mistake company owners make is to make it all about them. If you’re a sole trader, that’s expected, of course, but if you run a larger business and you have employees, it is no longer just about you. If you feel you are the only person who can sell enough, if you think you’re the only one your customers want to see, you’ll never step away no matter how well informed or competent your employees are. It’s wise to give them a chance to do what you do. You may be surprised.
If they can do it, then you can already move onto doing different things within the company. If they can’t, perhaps it is time you taught them. They will appreciate you putting faith in them, and it will mean you can finally take some time off without your business losing money when you’re away.