Learning to Lean on Others
Are You Overworking Yourself?
Senior executives are often seen as role models — hard-working individuals with passion and talent who have pushed themselves up the corporate ladder. But one pitfall of executive professionals is they tend to do all the work themselves. The same can be said for solo entrepreneurs. In another one of my articles, I described ‘The Life of an Entrepreneur as one where things are often done alone. This isn’t uncommon. But is it healthy? Not in the long run. Though the saying, “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself,” rings true in many cases, it can prove detrimental when taken to the extreme.
A Recipe for Burnout
Treating your business like a DIY project is a sure-fire way to get burnt out. This is especially the case for those living here in the Golden State, as one in eight self-employed entrepreneurs are Californians. Indeed, California is the picture of entrepreneurial success.
However, reports have also revealed a heightened rate of loneliness among Californian entrepreneurs and business leaders as compared to the rest of the country. It wouldn’t be a far cry to assume this loneliness stems from senior executives and solo entrepreneurs’ tendency to take on all the work themselves. By doing this, leaders overextend themselves, making them more prone to physical and mental exhaustion. Sustaining this behavior over an extended period will inevitably end in burnout.
If all this rings true for you, it’s important to know one thing: You don’t have to do everything yourself.
Delegating and Cooperating Make for a Healthy Business
It’s okay to lean on others for support. It’s not a sign of weakness at all, as effective delegation and cooperation are good for both you and your business. Plus, there are different ways to go about it.
Delegation is the best way to go. You have a team of capable employees, so utilize them instead of taking all the workload on your shoulders. Note that this is something you can do from the very beginning of your venture. One of the tasks you’ll have to tick off when registering your LLC here in California is to assign a registered agent, who is the main point person for all the legal paperwork in your business. Though it is possible to be your own business’s registered agent — and indeed, many eager entrepreneurs do sign on without much hesitation — it is also equally acceptable to get a trusted teammate to fulfill the role. There is also the option of outsourcing the role to registered agent services, which can further free up your time while you are assured your legal paperwork is in professional hands. This way, you can focus on the bigger picture: laying down long-term plans, standardizing operating procedures, and more.
Outsourcing – The Ideal Method for Entrepreneurs
Speaking of outsourcing, this is the ideal method for solo entrepreneurs. Doing so can help you out with your business’s operations. The Balance points out that outsourcing offers more staffing flexibility than traditional hiring methods. Contractors can be brought in when necessary, then released with little complications when things slow down again. This is especially useful for entrepreneurs who are just starting out, as it’s more cost-effective.
Whichever method you choose, remember the goal is to stop overextending yourself and to avoid burnout. Learning to lean on others for support is a great way to do just that. Silicon Valley may be filled with tough competition, but for your business to really flourish, you need to learn to trust people with your vision and let go of the fear of making mistakes. If this is something you’d like to work on more, why not apply for a Leadership Strategic Coaching Session? With a little help, you’ll be able to work through your fears and even use them to your advantage.
