Webster defines power as the ability to act or do. Given that definition, every small business owner and entrepreneur has the power to grow his or her business. Although ever business individual has the ability to act, not everyone taps into their personal power or uses it properly to grow their business.
Power can easily be confused with manipulation. That’s control, not power. The good news is when you have true power, you don’t need control.
Here are some ways you can plug into your personal power to grow your small business:
- Become toleration-free. When you’re tolerating (i.e., putting up with stuff), like poor performance or delayed delivery from vendors, you’re giving your power to the very person, place, or thing you are putting up with. By shifting from someone who routinely tolerates ‘stuff’ to that of being a business owner free of tolerations, you take back what was yours to begin with.
- Clarify values. Values are who you are. Your values show up in the behaviors and activities that you’re naturally drawn to. Think back to when you were 6 years old. What was it that you loved doing? Were you naturally inspired to create, explore, teach, or learn? Have you incorporated your values into your small business? Knowing your values helps you to tap into your power and make smart business decisions.
- Develop a reserve for fear. You’ve likely heard the most common advice for facing fear: “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” (That concept never quite worked for me.) Fear indicates a pending risk. One way to alleviate fear is to develop a reserve around what you fear. For instance, if you fear making a marketing decision because of a limited budget, establish a greater budget than you feel you’ll need. Eliminating fear by developing reserves makes it easier for you to move into action.
- Practice self-kindness. Self-kindness is the ability to take better care of oneself. Considered by some to be a luxury, it is a necessary resource required of a powerful small businessperson. Habits of self-kindness include saying “No”, maintaining work-life balance, healthy eating, regular exercise, and hanging out with those who treat you as a bright small business owner who can accomplish great things.
- Operate at 51%. Unless you’ve had a frontal lobotomy (i.e. removal of the frontal lobe of the brain) that renders you negligent, rash, and unskilled, you are responsible for all that is happening or not happening in your life. Erica Jong said, “Take your life in your own hands and what happens? A terrible thing; there’s no one to blame.” Take control over your response to your business growth and you’ll be surprised at all you’ll achieve.
If you’re ready to tap deeper into personal power, select one area to work with at a time. Master that that area before moving the the next. As you do so, you’ll begin to feel your personal power – your ability to act – begin to return and along with it, the confidence to make a difference.
If we can help you develop some strategies around any of the areas listed above, contact us for you free strategy development call.
