Jon Forknell: 5 Mistakes You’re Making as a Business Owner AND Boss

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You’re the owner of a small business, so by default, you assume you need to also be the boss of your staff. But is that necessarily the best decision for your company? If managing employees doesn’t come naturally, you’re probably guilty of at least a few of the following errors many entrepreneurs make.

1. You’re Taking On More Than You Can Chew. Running a business is a job in and of itself. So is managing staff. If you’re trying to do everything from managing your social media sites to ordering breakroom supplies, it’s time to learn the art of delegation. Assigning tasks to employees or even hiring a third party firm or freelancer lets you get back to focusing on your business.
2. You’re Trying to Be Your Employees’ Friend. The first rule of being a good manager is: don’t try to be a friend to your staff. Sure, you want them to like you, but that doesn’t mean heading to the club together on the weekends is the best way to forge a professional relationship. You’re better off being friendly but slightly distanced to ensure your staff respects you and listens to you.
3. You’re Constantly Peering Over Your Staff’s Shoulders. It’s not that you don’t trust them to do their jobs, exactly, but you really want to make sure they’re doing the tasks they’ve been assigned the right way. Your way. This is an exercise in self-restraint: you hired capable people, so get out of their way and let them do their jobs.
4. You Don’t Know How to Get Out of Your Own Way. You started this business, so you think you always know what’s best for it. But that means you’re unwilling to listen to others’ ideas or even release your control over a situation. Remember: no business survives in a bubble. And while certainly you know your industry inside and out, your employees do too, and they want their ideas to be considered. Listening to them and heeding their advice can make them feel more invested in your company, which can make them work harder for you.
5. You Don’t Support Your Employees’ Dreams. You’re so focused on achieving your own goals that you don’t pay attention to what your employees want. Or maybe you rely on Beth, your assistant, so much that you don’t want to promote her and have to hire a replacement. Realize that you are only as good as your staff, and by supporting them in achieving their dreams, you help your business grow.

Running a business and managing staff is a juggling act. But if you truly want to help your business, take a look at how you manage others and how you lead by example. Ensure you’re a shining example of what you want your staff to be.