1. A compassionate and compelling leader
Like the captain of a small ship, an entrepreneur must take the lead and harness the ability to manage resources, inspire teams of people to work together, and provide a clear direction for achieving optimum outcomes. As a business owner, it is only natural that you are idea-driven, but unleashing the leader within is what allows you to transform ideas into realized dreams. It goes beyond giving motivational speeches and offering incentives. Those things are important, but you also need to lead by example, make yourself available to your team and let them know how much you appreciate and value their work. Never underestimate the power of kindness and empathy.
2. A smart strategist and marketer
Marketing is a must-have for any business. It involves a lot of moving parts including target market research, strategic on-brand messaging, budgeting, tracking results and making adjustments. And although it may seem overwhelming, the most well-known entrepreneurs tend to be natural-born marketers. By living and breathing the voice and mission of your business, you will innately possess valuable marketing insight. New companies tend to have tighter budgets, so exploring and expanding your online marketing skills is a smart move. Just remember to recognize the value in hiring the right people to help fill in any marketing gaps – you’ll be glad you did.
3. A builder and nurturer of relationships
No matter the industry you’re in, entrepreneurs need to master the art of networking. Even if you feel you are embarking on a primarily solo endeavor, the growth of your business will be significantly dependent on the relationships you work to build. The familiar motto: it’s not what you know but who you know, proves to be true in most instances. Networking is a crucial skill that allows you to maximize your potential and will directly impact your business ownership experience. You’ll discover mentors along the way and have the ability to fill your pipeline with customers, potential stakeholders, and fellow incubator entrepreneurs.
“Some people dream of success, while other people get up every morning and make it happen.”
– Wayne Huizenga
4. A believer in conviction and commitment
Passion is a natural part of every entrepreneur’s DNA. It acts as the engine that drives every business owner, and motivation is the partner to that passion. Both of these characteristics transform a person with a vision into an actual, real-world entrepreneur. The ability to work relentlessly at building your brand means staying committed to your goals and acting with conviction, always remembering the “why” that motivates you on a daily basis. Ultimately, it can be the make or break of a business. Facing challenges is an inevitable part of being an entrepreneur; make the decision to be the type of person that continues pushing forward.
5. A thoughtful and transparent communicator
Verbal and written communication skills are essential to the success of any entrepreneur. Honing in on this skill set allows you to cultivate trusted employees, connect with customers, and court potential investors. If you want your dream to prosper, knowing how to express yourself on behalf of it is necessary. And don’t forget to listen. Whether it’s a consumer or a team member, people want to know their opinions matter and that they are truly being heard.
Bonus Tip! If you’ve always had a healthy curiosity, put that quality to work! Use your curiosity to explore new avenues of expansion for your business or examine what competitors are doing. It is this desire to question and continuously improve that can expand your business in limitless ways.
As a new business owner, tapping into these five skills will pave the path for your ‘happily ever after’ entrepreneur story. tBp embraces and lives by these attributes. We are building a community that supports individuals that hold themselves to higher standards and who refuse to rest their laurels. Every day is another opportunity to do better and to be more at tBp — a place unlike any other that you are more than welcome to call home.