Being a Fiercely Independent Entrepreneur Stunts Your Business

You’re a firm owner. You chose to be independent of the corporate world. No cubicle for you. No time clock. You’re a fiercely independent entrepreneur and you don’t need anyone.

Whether you choose to own the role, or not, you are a leader. Sometimes it gets a little lonely at the top.

More often than not your control freak gets the better of you. People let you down. They fail to meet your standards of excellence or follow through as quickly as you’d like. Frequently, doing the job yourself seems easier than teaching someone on your team.

Firm owners need to choose their team wisely. Don’t settle for a new hire when there are red flags or you feel something is off about that person. That decision will cost you time, frustration and money in the long run. Instead, aim to surround yourself with people who buy into your culture and share your mission.

The Island of Independence

Consider what enticed you to start your accounting firm. Did you believe there was a better way to do things? Or, your side hustle turned into a full-time business? Whatever the reason, you were prepared to tackle the challenges that come with business ownership.

Because of your self-reliance, you follow through with your commitments. You’re dedicated to work tirelessly and clean up the mess when things don’t go as planned.

Saying “yes” to anything that comes your way keeps you doing everything. Read full post. #getpaidwhatyoureworth Click To Tweet

You don’t want someone else dictating how you work or when you work. When you run your firm, and set boundaries, the benefits outweigh the risks.

Your entrepreneurial spirit has pros and cons. Start ups wear many hats and do it all. But you can’t grow, unless you align with key people. If you continue working solo in your firm, your island of independence will limit your success.

The downside to being a fiercely independent entrepreneur:

• Delegate. Your fierce independence gets things started. You maintain high standards – especially regarding client relationships. As a result, you believe you’re the best person for the job. Delegating to others feels cumbersome and tedious.
• Acknowledge. Don’t be the type of firm owner where compliments are few and far between. Your team members want your approval. Acknowledge their good work and accomplishments.
  
• Assistance. Even when you are overwhelmed, you don’t know how to ask for help. Saying yes to anything that comes your way keeps you doing everything. This means you’ve given up some personal time to please someone else.
• Approachable. Because you are busy and focused, people hesitate to approach you. Your tasks come first and everyone knows it.

As the leader of your accounting firm, how long can this last before burning out? This isn’t what you signed up for. Overloading yourself with tasks limits your potential. How long will you endure this before you’re ready to lighten your load?

Start Building Connections

As a fiercely independent entrepreneur, you are holding back your firm’s growth. The toll it takes extends beyond your firm. Ongoing overwhelm leads to depression, strained relationships and physical health issues.

Follow these steps to free up your time, grow your firm faster and reduce overwhelm.

• Energy drain. List all of your energy drains (don’t hold back on this one). Then note where your control issues sap your energy. Do a drop-it-or-stop-it analysis. What can you easily stop? What’s not a highly effective use of your time or skills? Gather with people you trust to discuss ways to decrease the energy drains.
• Lighten your load. You want to do it all, but you don’t need to. Start unpacking your tasks and give some to other people. You deserve to get lower-level tasks off your plate. Delegating can feel like giving away your baby at first. Hand off small tasks first. Pass forward the things which feel like punishment. This frees you up to think creatively about your firm.
• Team talk. Switch from me to we thinking. Include people you trust in your decision making process. As a fiercely independent entrepreneur, asking for help is difficult. Align yourself with people who enjoy doing the tasks you dread. Remember to thank people for their help. As the CEO of your firm, you want to encourage everyone to contribute. Start emphasizing how the entire team benefits. Once you realize you don’t have to have all the answers, the team will connect and add vibrancy to your accounting firm.
• Evaluate. Set time on your calendar to regularly evaluate what’s working and what’s not. Ask for constructive criticism. You can say something like, I think this will work (or not work), what do you think? Then get quiet and listen.

Join In to Be Successful

Once you start opening up, you’ll find people who will eagerly take on parts of your workload, contribute ideas, create efficient systems, and cheer you on to success. Imagine what’s possible once you throw off the tyranny of doing everything yourself.

Firm owners who solely work in their business basically create a job for themselves. That’s a form of small business ownership which works well for a certain type of individual.

That’s not enough for growth-minded accounting professionals. Freeing yourself of all the energy drains gives you the capacity to advance toward your dream firm. Don’t undervalue your experience and knowledge.

#Accounting professionals who solely work in their business basically created a job for themselves. Read full post. #getpaidwhatyoureworth Click To Tweet

Shift from Technician to CEO

A trusted team allows you to explore better systems, engage in group brainstorming for new ideas, and work in partnership. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Gather your courage to align yourself with others who share your vision.

Here’s an advanced tip about exceptional leaders. They realize the importance of listening. The more you listen, the more you learn. This allows your team members to feel acknowledged. They’ll be encouraged to suggest new ideas. Create a culture where everyone contributes.

Adjusting your fierce independence doesn’t mean you turn into a wimp. As you shift from technician to CEO, you step up as the firm’s leader. As you inspire others, they embrace ownership.

If you’re tired of being a fiercely independent entrepreneur, then change is possible. The best way to shift from isolated independence to CEO is to alter your mindset. Freeing yourself of old beliefs begins with a decision. Letting go of your need to control everything takes courage.

Follow these recommendations for your accounting firm to be successful, and grow while keeping your passion alive. Discover how to turn your dream firm into a reality. Right NOW claim your FREE RESOURCE to grow your revenues and lighten your workload.