Are you Ready to Share the Reins and Let Your Company Thrive?

Submitted by: Jonena Relth, President and Leadership Evangelist

Don’t you love it as a senior leader when you can step back and watch your team shine without you? As a small business owner, that’s the most rewarding part of my job.  Not only does it speak well of our leaders, but the company as a whole.  Too many leaders don’t want to let go of the reigns, thus holding back internal growth and causing frustration and ultimately staff turnover.  This runs true for all levels of leadership, not just at the top.

Small business owners are famous for building their company around “their personal brand” and not that of the company’s brand.  I admit to being one of those SBO’s for many years.  When hiring and firing decisions were made, everyone looked to me.  When customers called, they asked for the owner.  When financial decisions are made, the only people privy to the P&L and Balance Sheet were me and the Controller.  When strategic planning was done, I stood up front leading the discussion and had the final say. When I was absent (others call it on vacation), I spent the majority of my time, putting out fires via the phone and email.  And worst of all, when I was ill and totally out of pocket, decision making was put on hold until my return!  Well, I’m a reformed SBO that believes with all my being that the talented people who have worked to make our brand what it is today, can and will continue making the company thrive into tomorrow – whatever that will hold.

Does this sound like your small business or department?  If yes, you need to look in the mirror and ask yourself these heart wrenching questions:

1. Are you afraid of growing your company beyond that which you know?  Do you steer towards projects that you could do yourself, if you chose to?
2. Are you afraid of giving up the spotlight? Are you always among those representing your company at conferences or presentations?  Do you automatically conclude that you’re the best face for the company?
3. Do you lack confidence in your leaders?  Do you assign them only projects you know from past experience that they can handle?
4. Are you afraid of retirement?  Do you worry about becoming obsolete and thus suffer from “they don’t need me so I better keep piping up when things don’t “look” like they used to” syndrome?