In the early days, being the leader often means you are the business, because you are the product, the sales person, the finance person and the receptionist.
Tipping Point business owners see that they need to make the leap from the “technician” doing the work, to the leader and manager figuring out what needs to be done and by whom.
As Michael Gerber pointed out in his now classic book The E-Myth, “The Technician asks, ‘What work has to be done?’ whereas the Entrepreneur asks, ‘How must the business work?’”
Being the leader can show up in your business as you taking on the role of CEO or Managing Director. It also means you begin the process of building a team around you and start skilling up in other areas vital to the growth of your business, including financial management, marketing and sales.
Those business owners who stay “technicians”, stuck working IN their business rather than ON their business, will struggle to reach the Tipping Point.
Rating: How well are you embracing your role as Leader (1 low / 5 high)?
Rating Summary:
If you rated yourself as a 5, you consider yourself a strong leader. Great. Be sure at this point to have strong measures and reporting systems in place so that you can keep your finger on the pulse of the organisation. Remember also to leverage but not abdicate. Your role in the business is essential.
Plan and investing time and money in your own grown than development, seeking support and mentors, and advisory board to help keep you on track and surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable.
And if you rated yourself 1 to 4, there are some tips below that will help you as you work on building your role as leader of your business and transition out of the technician role:
You As Leader Tips
If you need to move away from being a “Technician” so that you can become more of a Leader in your business:
- Create a well defined picture of the future of your business (thinking more globally about your business is key)
- Design your business and the roles of other people – suppliers, contractors and staff
- Learn how to train and delegate to others and how to build a team
- Develop systems that will provide you leverage
- Plan for a team financially by including expenses in your budget
- Embrace your role and identity as the leader of your organisation
Case Study – You As Leader
Maud Edmiston, Miss Maud
The Miss Maud story is inspiring…
Maud Edmiston arrived in Western Australia in 1968 from Sweden. At the time, Perth had no cafés and very few restaurants, unlike cosmopolitan Stockholm.
As a young mother with two babies aged 1 and 2, Maud began revolutionising the Perth hospitality industry, even though she says it seems like madness now that she started a 7 day business open until midnight when she launched Western Australia’s first authentic Smörgåsbord restaurant, the Miss Maud Hotel in 1973.
She led the way from there opening the first alfresco restaurant in 1979 and today her company consists of the Miss Maud Swedish Hotel, Miss Maud Restaurant, 16 Pastry Houses, a thriving online catering business and a Swedish bakery creating beautiful products for her own restaurants as well as wholesalers.
Miss Maud knew early on that she needed to learn how to move from the technician role to the leadership role to enable growth.
Maud’s tips for success when it comes to transitioning from technician to leader in your business:
- Surround yourself with smart, positive, can-do people
- Learn to detect hidden talents and develop them
- Give your people the space to use their talent and grow – you’ll be amazed what empowered people can do.
- Take time out to get inspired!
- Give yourself headspace for ideas to ow for your next BIG thing!
- Recognise that a problem is the beginning of the solution – celebrate it and use it as the stimulus for innovation and positive change.
