There’s a common misconception that leaders get where they are by themselves. Those with an entrepreneurial dream assume that they must take on the weight of the world as they strive to reach the top. So, they pull all their resources, skills, and experience and set out to tackle the challenging business world. Unfortunately, many of them end up folding under pressure and watch their dreams fall by the wayside.
What they fail to realize is, no one makes it to the top without assistance. Although entrepreneurs, business executives, and leaders bear the brunt of the load, those that succeed did so because they relied on others. They weren’t afraid to admit their weaknesses and ask for assistance. Here’s a look at what happens when they did.
Reduces Stress
One of the most significant advantages of asking for help as a leader is reduced stress. Trying to take on every aspect of running a business or team alone is physically and emotionally taxing. It cuts into productivity, decreases morale, increases mistakes, and hinders success. When you have people you can rely on, it reduces the stress, lightens the load, and ultimately allows you to lead more effectively.
Enhances Skills
Being a leader is a multi-faceted position. It requires an array of skills and qualities ranging from communication to problem-solving and everything in between. Most people aren’t born with these abilities and must learn them over time and through experience. An effective leader is aware of this and has no problem turning to business coaching, advisor, colleagues, or employees to help them evolve in these areas. By enlisting the counsel and guidance of those more experienced than they are, they have an opportunity to learn new things and sharpen their skills.
Eliminates Unnecessary Mistakes
When you’re trying to do everything yourself, relying on your own resources, knowledge, and experience, you’re bound to make mistakes. Many of these mistakes could be avoided if you’re willing to rely on others. For example, hiring an assistant to take over the clerical tasks reduces the likelihood of you missing phone calls, double-booking appointments, or drafting emails with typos. Similarly, outsourcing your marketing to an agency decreases the chances of lost opportunities or ruining your brand.
Exposes Opportunities
Although your passion, drive, and effort can take your business far, there’s a limit to how far you can go alone. When you rely on the assistance of others, it opens the doors for new opportunities. Their unique education, experience, skills, perspectives, and ideas can take the company places you couldn’t do yourself. They strengthen your brand or team, helping to eliminate weaknesses that can push your agenda further. For instance, bringing on a business partner could give you access to more capital and a stronger network of business professionals.
Competitive Edge
The business world is a dog eat dog. If you’re going to make it to the top, you’ve got to set yourself apart from the competition. The more qualified and reliable people you have on your side working towards company goals, the easier it is to stay ahead in an ever-changing market. Their skills and abilities combined help strengthen your brand, allowing you to overcome challenges, develop new ideas, and reach new milestones.
When the media discusses prolific business leaders today, they often put the spotlight on one individual. Yes, it was their ideas, legwork, skills, and abilities that helped them get where they are now, but that wasn’t all. If it weren’t for their business partners, mentors, coaches, consultants, colleagues, managers, and employees, their stories might have had a different outcome. They understood, however, that if they were going to be a success, it was essential to recognize when they needed help and reach out to the right group of professionals to take them where they couldn’t go alone. So, if you’re thinking about starting a business, do the right thing and ask for help when you need it.