Launching a new business idea can be tough. So can being given a new leadership role as a supervisor or manager for the first time.
If you are new to either of these situations, the sense of loneliness sneaks up quickly. For the aspiring entrepreneur you suddenly no longer have the comfort of your peers to surround you. For the new manager/supervisor, the old gang at work may not want to be your friend anymore.
So what do you do with the loneliness? Here are a few quick tips.
1. Find a New Support Net – Figure out where you can connect with others in a similar situation.
For the entrepreneur, if you bought a franchise, get to know the other franchisee’s. For the solopreneur, check into community groups where other owners may frequent (Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.)
For the new manager, learn to know your peers at the company. Work on ways to connect with them now.
2. Find a Mentor – In either case, try to identify someone who can be a mentor. If you do not already know anyone, use the resources from #1 above, to figure out who can serve in this capacity.
3. Find Coaching – There are so many great business and management coaches. Shop around. Ask them what they know and how they learned it. The accredited coaches are great, but be sure your potential coach has been in the trenches too.
[shareable cite=”Doug Thorpe” width=”90%”]In business, street smarts can trump book smarts most of the time. [/shareable]
4. Lastly, do not be afraid to ask. – So many times pride gets in the way of good information. If you feel stuck because of lack of information, be sure to ask. Taking a guess and missing the mark can do far more harm that good. Learning to be able to find credible resources to ask for good information serves to make you look brilliant.
One does not need to be alone. It has been said,
…there is great wisdom in the company of many counselors..
Make good choices about where to get your advice, the use it freely.
Question: What can you share about your first time at leadership or a new business? Leave a comment below.
