When managing a small business you need many qualities and skills. You won’t be able to rely on the support you would receive at a larger company. You certainly need good interpersonal skills – the ability
to communicate well with different people in different situations. This means knowing when to listen as well as speak. Sound commercial skills will enable you to make wise decisions, not least, being able
to spot a business opportunity and act on it. Knowledge brought about by experience helps you to make important decisions. You learn from your successes and failures. Every business manager has to be able to sell – whether it’s products to customers or the concept of your business to a bank manager, for example.
Many small-business managers struggle with selling but, no matter how good your idea is, you’ve got to be able to sell it. Passion, commitment and hard work are all crucial. People need to put in the hours when
trying to establish a business, but the need for this usually lessens when the business has been up and running for a while. You will need plenty of courage and determination. People will reject you. Having overall
responsibility has made me feel lonely at times, but I enjoy the challenge and it gives you immense satisfaction when things go right. You can’t shy away from making difficult or unpopular decisions. I’ve had to let people go in the past, which is among the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. Remaining organised is very important. It helps me to stay in control, prioritize my tasks, deal with demanding
workloads and get the most out of my time in work. I also think it’s important to realize your limitations and get others to do things for you. It pays to know when to delegate. Having your own business
is definitely a lifestyle choice. I’ve had to make sacrifices. I don’t see my family and friends anywhere near as much as I’d like to, for example. You need to be able to cope with pressure – which can be considerable when things aren’t going well. There have been times when it would have been easier for me to throw in
the towel, but you have to stay enthusiastic and maintain a positive, long-term outlook. As well as finding the drive and desire to make things work, frequently you need to be resourceful and resilient. Many
times I’ve had to pick myself up and just get on with things. Having a measure of selfconfidence
definitely helps, but it is something that grows. You start off with some experience; you practice; you get some things right; you learn from your mistakes; and you develop more confidence as a result.