Are you working on the business or for the business? There are many different things you need to get right to run a company successfully. You have your products and services, your marketing, your employees, your sales figures, and much more to worry about. If you don’t find time to delegate as many responsibilities as possible either to employees or to contractors, then it may end up being that you haven’t really created a business – you’ve just gone the long way around to creating a job for yourself.

In this article, Burton Beavan will explain why you should be working on your business, rather than for your business.

Are you working on the business or for the business? Why you need to be working on the business

Working on your business leads to greater growth as well as more financial stability. Why?

You have a clearer picture of your business’ strengths and weaknesse

When you take a step back from being so “hands on” with your business, you can get a clearer view of how everything is performing. This “bigger picture” is particularly helpful when you are trying to steer your business in a distinct direction or if you are trying to focus your energy in improving a certain element of your company’s activities.

Let’s say that customers feel that support to them was not as good as it could be. If you are unable to see that because all of your attention is being placed into trying to do one hundred or more other things during the day, then it is going to be easy to miss this altogether.

By taking a step back, you can see how each part of your business is doing and work on those areas which are not currently up to standard.

You are the only person capable of leading your business

When you have a vision for what your business should look like, you are the only person that can steer everything in the right direction. You can delegate every single task in your business but you can’t select another leader and expect them to share the same aspirations as you in terms of business success. They’re not as invested in it as you.

Beside which, people like to be led – they like to be managed. Spend time in developing your own management abilities and see the benefits through increased loyalty, better outcomes, and higher productivity.

Are you working on the business or for the business? How you can tell you are working in the business

There are a few tell-tale signs that you have become your own employee. Here are some of the most common ways to spot that you are working for your business.

You fill every role

You need to learn to trust your employees. If they are sufficiently trained, they will be able to handle any job you put their way. By micro-managing every single element of your business, you are robbing yourself of time and your employees of the chance to grow.

Most people start their own business in order to escape the 9-5 life. But when you take it upon yourself to complete every task that your business demands, you can easily find yourself working a 9-12 instead. Not only are these hours exhausting but you might lose focus on your vision for the company.

Plus, if you’re a Mum or a Dad and your children are particularly young, they’ll only ever be this age once. Blink and it’s gone.

You don’t have time to build the business

Time is a common factor when you are too hands-on. When every second of your working day is spent completing tasks that you should be delegating to your employees, your business will suffer in the long run. When we say your business will suffer, that can take a few forms.

You might be sacrificing the potential of your company to grow. Less time spent on gaining new customers and hiring new staff members might cause your business to stand still at best or fall back at worst because you’re just too tired and stressed.

Your business doesn’t have any clear goals

Your goal shouldn’t be for your business to stay afloat – rather it should be to make it thrive. This can be difficult if you are too hands on. Set realistic, achievable, and tangible goals to aim for.

An example of these goals could be to increase your customer base by 10%. Know what you want to achieve and the people around you who can help you get there.

Are you working on the business or for the business? We can help you get the balance right

We’re not just accountants – we’re growth experts. And growth needs you to be healthy, happy, focused and wideawake. If you’re not waving, you’re drowning, please get in touch with us to put together an action plan.

Call us today on 01606 333900 or email hello@burtonbeavan.co.uk