Become a better leader for your business with these essential tips.
Likability is an essential part of being a leader and a key component to relationships formed with your stakeholders. Especially with the rise of technology such as A.I., human connection and emotion are highly appreciated traits. Customer service is everything when it comes down to a company, and if your organization is lacking on this front, change should be made.
You may be wondering, how does being well-rounded tie into my role as an entrepreneur? From my experience, if you don’t tend to your life outside of work, you’ll eventually experience burnout or shed your business in a not-so-appealing light.
As entrepreneurs, it’s easy to get caught up in our business — after all, we want to see it succeed. But success shouldn’t be defined by limiting beliefs such as monetary value, as so many often view it. If you take care of yourself, the rest will come naturally. And your business will be better off because of it.
You Are What You Attract
Running and managing a business is hard enough to begin with, but adding unbalanced clients to the list certainly doesn’t help. As they say, you are what you attract, and if you carry yourself as stressed, apathetic, or aggravated, chances are your clients will be the same. Your clients are the fuel to your business, and if you’re not nurturing those relationships, your business will suffer as a result.
As the leader, you’re responsible for your entire company, from employee morale to testimonials, good or bad. Communication is an integral part of this and should be a top priority when it comes to fostering healthy relationships. Part of being well-balanced means communication is one of many fundamental qualities. After all, it’s what holds the ship together. When you move in a way that takes into consideration all aspects of life, not just work-related situations, clients notice.
I recently sat down with Matt Buser, founder of Buser Legal, to dive deeper into the topic of well-rounded entrepreneurs. As a specialist in all areas of entertainment representation, Buser has come to learn the importance of taking care of himself to better serve his clients and in turn set his business up for ultimate success.
Maintain a Balanced Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle looks like six to eight hours of sleep, hydration, a clean diet, and time put aside for your personal life. There’s nothing wrong with dedicating a large portion of your time to your business, but there has to be some sort of balance. For instance, when Buser was in law school, he made sure to stick with his hobby of playing live music — something a lot of entrepreneurs would neglect along the way. We convince ourselves that work should be our top priority, forgoing all other aspects of our life and labeling them as subsidiary.
As entrepreneurs, having fun is OK, and, in fact, it’s encouraged, and it doesn’t take away from the work you put into your business — it will only strengthen it. You have to find a balance to be successful in life, and a simple way to do so is to effectively time-manage through organization, personal manifestation, and mindset — all methods Buser applies to his own life.
Working 24/7 is not realistic or sustainable, even if it feels like the right thing to do. Take time for yourself, whether it’s getting outside, spending time with family, or reading. It will all contribute to the betterment of your performance as a leader and the success of your business.
Keep a Positive Outlook
It may sound redundant, but a positive mindset goes a long way, especially when you’re in a high-stress position. Something Buser preaches for his law firm is calling for what you want to see happen rather than dwelling on the negatives. The beliefs like “team no sleep” and “always working no breaks” are outdated and unrealistic. Sure, owning a business is tough work, but it doesn’t mean your life gets put on hold. And it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t keep a positive attitude.
Now more than ever consumers hold the power of persuasion, and if your company is perceived as disingenuous or negative, the ripple effect can do some serious damage. How you carry yourself will rub off on the rest of your team, and even your clients. I think I speak for everyone when I say people prefer to interact with happy individuals. So don’t limit yourself to such a rigid box. Step outside and live your life while also leading your business.
My advice to entrepreneurs? Don’t neglect your life outside of work, because at the end of the day, your business is a reflection of you — the leader. It’s not solely about putting your best foot forward. It requires you as a whole.
