You don’t have to be isolated at the top
There are many amazing things associated with being a successful entrepreneur or business owner but you can also feel very isolated. Many people won’t understand the fears and passion you have for your growing your business – never mind the sleepless nights! I met a chap recently who was incredulous as his friend (a business owner) had taken his laptop on a “boys weekend”! Any business owner knows that we are all joined at the hip with these things and work is 24/7. That’s just the way it is.
It is why being a part of a peer learning group can be beneficial to you and the growth of your business and being around like-minded people with similar challenges and outlook on the world is so important. If we don’t have a network of people around us that “get it”, get the madness, get the constant rollercoaster of emotions, we can easily feel that we are “doing it wrong” or “are not worthy!’ You are not and you are!!!
As a Chair for the Women Presidents’ Organisation (WPO) – I have facilitated the Birmingham UK group for the past 4-years. I see first-hand how important it is for group members to meet regularly with other women who understand their challenges – either because they have been there before themselves or are currently in the same place.
Initially, when members join, it is common for them to have to develop the skill of sharing challenges. They are so used to having their “game face on” they are just not used to letting the barriers down. It does not take long though for them trust their peers and they embark on sharing, take part in collective problem-solving, learning and teaching. This generates the types of relationships in the room that I have not seen anywhere else in business.
The work that we do in our group generates real success, both personally and commercially for members and these “second stage”, highly motivated, successful and formidable entrepreneurs amaze me by their skill at every meeting.
If you are the top leader in your business, then you and your team will be looking at things from the same angle which can sometimes limit objectivity and any potential pitfalls. However, when you have someone who you can trust that can look at your business from an unbiased and objective perspective, this can give you greater insight and valuable wisdom. Many members describe this as “the board you can’t afford”! I love this and it is a great way of describing it.
Another benefit of being part of a peer group is having access to the right people as well as their connections which is probably one of your most valuable resources in business. By expanding your network, you increase access to your potential clients/customers and the opportunity for future collaborations. Being around positive and skilful people who encourage and hold you accountable should not be underestimated, sometimes this is all you need to take the next step with something that you might have been procrastinating about.
As part of my 10-years in business celebrations, I have reviewed on all my products and realised that although I have helped many highly successful women, I had not been able to reach all women with my current programmes. This is why it was important for me to develop a wider women’s offering, allowing me to support females at all stages of their business journey.
So now, as well as offering the Women Presidents’ Organisation group for “second stage” female entrepreneurs, I am now also offering:
• The Women Entrepreneurs Board for any female entrepreneur or business owner who has a turnover between £100,000 and £1 million per year.
• The Women Executives Board for Corporate Senior Managers/Directors.
I continue to offer female Executive Coaching Programmes for entrepreneurs and Senior Managers/Directors.
If anything in the article resonated with you, let’s set up a call, Zoom or a coffee and discuss how we can take you or your business to the next level.