2016 is almost here,do not make the mistakes that you made in 2015 again.
Here are a few examples of mistakes made by many good entrepreneurs who have learned to ensure that they do not happen again.
1. Believing in something that is too good to be true
We have all heard that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This holds true in business as well. It can be easy to follow people who are very charismatic and confident. Good entrepreneurs who have been a little too naïve in the past never let it happen again. Always do your due diligence and make decisions only after considering logic and evidence. Ask serious questions before you get involved or committed to something, especially if it seems too good to be true.2. Running your business without a budget
Sticking to a budget forces you to make thoughtful and purposeful decisions about what is most important. Smart entrepreneurs know where their money is coming from and where it is going, and they control it every step of the way. Creating and sticking to a strict budget allows a business to respond better to challenges and opportunities that arise, because money is not being lost on unnecessary discretionary expenditures. Budgets require discipline, and discipline is essential to success in the business world.3. Losing track of the big picture
As an entrepreneur, your business depends on you to keep track of many different things at once. It is easy to get lost in one task and allow everything else to be pushed aside. Intelligent entrepreneurs regularly balance their daily tasks and priorities with larger goals. It is important to remember that the small things are all in service of the bigger picture, and if you lose sight of the overarching purpose, everything else will suffer.4. Being afraid of conflict
Conflict is an important part of developing strong relationships with other people. Especially in business, there will be times when people’s ideas will cause friction. Smart entrepreneurs know that shying away from conflict only makes things worse because nobody will be happy with inaction. It is better to address conflict in a positive, constructive way that works to solve the problem. Problems are inevitable in every business, and it is important to trust your team to be part of the solution. Shying away from a problem will only cripple your business as well as the respect that others have for you.5. Using poor communication skills
Many entrepreneurs assume that they have solid communication skills. After all, if you weren’t able to communicate your business’s mission and purpose in a positive way, why would people want to be a part it?The truth is, good communication skills are rarely inherent and can be very difficult to develop; they must be cultivated and fostered. When speaking with others, whether they are employees, partners or customers, it is important to speak clearly and use facts to explain and justify your decisions.
Many smart entrepreneurs use communication/personality tests to learn what different communication styles you and your employees use. Such tools can help you and your team better understand each other and communicate in ways that will ensure the message is clear to everyone.
If you have made any (or all!) of these mistakes, you’re in good company. The problem is if you do nothing to fix it. Entrepreneurs must reevaluate situations and adjust their plans often in order to stay on the path to success.
Written by Michael Brenner.
Michael Brenner is the CEO of Marketing Inside Group, Head of Strategy at NewsCred, and the former VP of Global Content Marketing at SAP. Michael is also the co-author of the upcoming book The Content Formula, a contributor to leading publications like The Economist, Inc Magazine, The Guardian, and Forbes and a frequent speaker at industry events covering topics such as marketing strategy, social business, content marketing, digital marketing, social media and personal branding.
Follow Michael on Twitter (@BrennerMichael), LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+
No comments:
Post a Comment