Jerome Harlington is a business owner and consultant who specialises in building great business leaders. He is facilitator for the Kent Business School arm of the Help to Grow Management programme.
Here, he offers up his top tips for growth as a successful manager:
Self-belief
No matter the size of a business, success hinges upon an individual who has the ambition and self-belief for the long term. Never forget why you got into that business, what your goals were and your drivers. As a business grows it is so easy to let it overtake your original morals and inspirations, but they are core to your success.
Take ownership
If you detach yourself from any element of your business – be it supply chain, finance or staff wellbeing, you expose weakness. Taking responsibility for every area, no matter how big or small, is essential for success.
Have a strong vision and share it
Establishing a clear vision is important but sharing that vision in the right way with all of your business is imperative. It is about empowering people to realise your goals and ethics and ensuring everyone understands the direction you want to head in.
Humility and Adaptability
Current business conditions are unprecedented in these uncertain times, so having the ability to change strategy or do things differently is important. Great managers are willing to change direction and be malleable.
Sweat the Small Stuff
A lot of people find practical theory mundane and dull, but growing a business is about doing the small things every day, religiously. It is important to constantly learn and top up your knowledge of how things are done.
Assess, Analyse and be Aware
Analysis is now integral and data analysis tools are more accessible than ever for any size of business. If you don’t learn from your mistakes your business won’t be fit for purpose – constantly assess where you are and reflect back on your integral goals and reasons for setting up a business.
Surround yourself with great people – and support them
Great managers recognise the team they need and are humble. They work on empowering others and relinquishing the reigns. The idea is that you are establishing a company that doesn’t need you day to day, which is harder than it sounds.
Find out more about signing up for the next offering of Help to Grow Management at Kent Business School
Help to Grow is a £520 million scheme to help owners of small and medium-sized businesses take their business to the next level.