Insightful Advice Every (Woman) Small Business Owner Needs to Hear

 

By Gloria Martinez

 

Women helm over 19.9% of small business owners in the U.S. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women-led businesses bring in over $1.8 trillion for the economy. And while your company may be taking off and paving the way to success, there are likely lots of additional lessons and insights you can grow from.

And that’s where Ally Safety comes in. In this article, we share the must-have advice that every female leader needs to be paying attention to today.

Prioritize Your Priority

 A big part of running a business is understanding what’s important and what’s background noise. It’s always a good idea to create a business plan so that you know where you’re headed and how to get there. This way, you can ensure that your actions and decisions align with your larger business goal. Be sure to ensure that each team member has a task to focus on and that you have a daily job you need to prioritize every day. This will ensure you’re not using valuable resources on noncritical charges.

 

Work-Life Balance

Many women leaders think they need to do it all - family, friends, work, and perhaps even school. However, we’re here to tell you that balance is the most critical function. Instead of attaining perfection, be open to making mistakes and asking for help when you need it. Not only will this reduce pressure, but you’ll also benefit from this strategy that helps you scale growth slowly but steadily. Me-time comes hand in hand with balance, too: make sure to make time for relaxing activities like reading, working out, meditation, and anything that helps you decompress. After all, a calm mind is a more productive and effective one, and you’ll see the benefits of me-time translate into business too!

 

Build a Strong Support Network

 Being a business owner can be a lonely enterprise - and as a woman leader, the lack of representation and support can make the journey all the more isolating. Instead of losing touch with other business owners, try to stay connected within your significant industry or sector. For some, that could mean referring to a mentor or coach, who will help navigate complex problems and situations. For others, that could mean participating in local entrepreneurship events or conferences. Finding a community offers reassurance, guidance, and even opportunities for cross-promotion or collaboration down the line! Thus, be sure to get networked with local business chapters or through websites like LinkedIn or AngelList.

 

Keep Communication Going

 Effective communication will be essential for an easy transition to scalability. Keep lines of open communication going - both with your employees and vendors. This will keep you apprised of new happenings and circumstances while helping you stay ahead of the curve in terms of business troubles (and they do come up, even for the best of us). Communication helps preempt these troubles while also creating a compelling company culture based on reliability and trust.

 And a team that premises itself on openness will be sure to grow stronger together. Employees will support and uplift each other while vendors provide services promptly and effectively. Thus, communication is precisely the tool that will help your business run like a well-oiled machine!

 Most small business owners realize almost immediately that running a company is much harder than it looks. That’s why every leader must adopt strategies that work within the available resources and capacities. For women leaders, there is the additional challenge of breaking through the glass ceiling. But with a bit of creativity (and lots of hard work), entrepreneurs can see their dreams come to reality!

Workplace safety is an essential part of running a business. Our goal at Ally Safety is to improve production, reliability, and culture through solutions and building systems that work. Be sure to check out our safety programs here or contact us for more information!