As small business owners, we often have a lone wolf tendency. As thought leaders, we believe we must wait until a certain threshold is met before seeking help with the admin and tech aspects of our businesses. This so-called journey from a one-person operation to a thriving practice is riddled with challenges if we choose to stay the course. It is not unusual for solopreneurs to refer to themselves as WE or THE TEAM to give themselves the appearance of being a more extensive operation than they are. While the allure of autonomy and control tempts small business owners, it often leads to much embarrassment as the imaginary team receives complaints for subpar work.
The Lone-Wolf Syndrome: An All-Too-Common Pitfall
Many small business coaches and thought leaders start their journey as solopreneurs, juggling multiple roles within their practice—from content creation and marketing to sales and client management and strategy development. While it’s wise to initially wear the many hats of a solopreneur, as time goes on, wearing them can be overwhelming, ultimately leading to workload increases, burnout looms, and cracks in the foundation start to appear.
I’ve seen it all in over 65,000 hours of business admin, and one of the most detrimental habits emerging is the subconscious creation of the “invisible” team members. Instead of acknowledging the limitations of trying to do everything alone, the lone-wolf solopreneur often shifts blame onto these nonexistent colleagues. While this may work initially, consistently making mistakes makes you look less professional for not moving your imaginary team on or for not getting a real team.
The Blame Game: Misdirecting Accountability
I recently provided feedback to a solopreneur on a course I had purchased. There were access issues, viewing issues, download issues, and spelling issues, and this medium-price course for this limited-time course was not living up to the quality expected from the purchase. I only had access for 2 months and spent 2.5 weeks dealing with and working my way around the glaringly obvious issues.
Over the course of 2.5 weeks (no pun intended), I reached out to the course creator several times, and each time, they responded, and things were sorted. The truth is, I shouldn’t have had to and here is why.
- If the creator had known what they were doing, these issues would not have arisen in the first place – course creation 101 in my book.
- If the ‘team’ were doing any of the work, I would performance manage them if they were employees or get new team members if subcontractors because the quality of the work is undoubtedly substandard.
- I felt bad for the course creator as it was not putting him in the best possible light.
The Devil is in the Detail: Getting it right is not hard!
It’s true, and we know it is. Your brand is at stake!
I’m not perfect; no one is, but when it comes to doing our best for a client, our team (yes, WE have a real team) works hard and is proactive at finding and fixing those glaringly obvious mistakes that are not good for business. If your brand is poorly reflected, you are two, and this impacts new clients coming on board. After all, we eat with their eyes first.
If you’re going it alone still and people are sharing with you the little mistakes they see, then here are 4 simple steps that can help break this cycle:
Recognise limitations
I suggest you acknowledge the impossibility of wearing all the hats in your business. If you continue to do that, you can’t grow your business to where you want it to be.
Embrace delegation
Identify the roles you’re doing that are not business critical and seek out team members who can handle them effectively. We all know this benefit will free you up time for strategic planning and personal growth.
Build a real team
There are thousands of virtual assistants out there, and every single one of them is unique in how they work. Some are much better than others, so look for those with a proven track record. Find individuals who complement your brand and contribute to the business’s success.
Cultivate accountability
With the right systems and processes in place, your team members, once you have them, are accountable for the quality of work they perform for your business and if it’s not working out, re-assess and find someone who will help you.
If you’re overwhelmed at the thought of getting help for your business, reach out and have a chat. We can spend an hour on a brainstorming session, and at the end of it, you’ll have the clarity and next steps to move forward. To book your session, go here or visit our contact page to drop me a message.
In conclusion, the journey of a small business coach or thought leader is challenging, but the lone-wolf approach, while initially enticing, can become a hindrance to success. By recognising the pitfalls of shouldering all responsibilities alone and taking proactive steps towards collaboration and accountability, these entrepreneurs can pave the way for sustainable growth and long-term success.
