Is it hard to get good help or are you just a martyr? Let’s face it, running a small business can be extremely stressful. When you get to the stage of hiring your first couple of employees, it can become more stressful – for some! Others go on to build bigger businesses with more employees and less stress.
Some small business owners are forever complaining. Others are forever building their businesses and are too busy to complain. What’s the difference between them? The difference is that some proprietors are so busy being martyrs they don’t have time to grow their business. Are you a small business martyr?
Do you find yourself complaining that:-
- It’s hard to find good workers;
- You have to do everything yourself;
- It’s quicker to do things yourself than ask an employee;
- People can’t do the simplest task properly;
- Nobody seems to care about your business;
- Nobody seems able to make a decision without asking you;
If that sounds like you, it’s likely you’re a small business martyr. You’re going to need to get over that or you’ll always be complaining and never getting anywhere. Here are some facts you need to face:
1. It’s your business. You’ll never find anyone who is as motivated and hungry for perfection and growth as you are because they have no stake in the final outcome. That’s particularly true if they earn a weekly wage and there is no performance incentive. You’re likely to find excellent employees if you look, but at the end of the day, for them it’s a job and for you it’s your livelihood. Stop searching for a clone and get on with it.
2. If your employees were as motivated and competent as you are, they’d probably be running their own business. Most employees will need your assistance and guidance, and will defer to you when they’re uncertain (personally, I think this is a good thing). Get used to it, step up and take responsibility for managing your business.
3. Employees make mistakes. So do you – whether or not you’re prepared to admit it. People learn by making mistakes. Making your employees feel incompetent by moaning and groaning about how many mistakes are made will destroy their confidence – and that will lead to more mistakes and less decision making on their part. Build up your employees and you’ll build up your business!
4. If you have an employee you are constantly complaining about, ask yourself this question – why are they still there? If, depsite best efforts, it’s clearly not working out, do yourself and your employee a favour by allowing them to move on. Small business martyrs often prefer to be surrounded by people they can complain about because it makes them feel more competent and in control. Faced with a person equally or more capable, the martyr can feel threatened.
Okay, so you recognise a few signs you might be a small business martyr (I know that I do!)… where to from here?
Article by Christie Lewis
Christie is Practice Manager at Alan Lewis Accountants . Besides accounting, her passion is for all things small business (and blogging, of course). You can contact Christie directly at christie@lewistaxation.com.au.
Christie has written 799 awesome articles for us at Alan Lewis Accountants – BLOG
Twitter: @christielewis
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