When we worry about what others think about us and try and “keep up appearances”. We may find ourselves eager to please everyone but ourselves. Continuing with this way of thinking may eventually impact our businesses.
Below are some tips on how to allow yourself to reach your full potential as a business owner and not put too much weight on other people’s opinions of you.
Make an Effort to be Thankful
To stop yourself from feeling like you have to “keep up appearances,” you should be grateful for everything you do. Any small business must start from the ground up. You used to get giddy at every single sale that came across your desk. You were relieved to be able to pay your office lease or your suppliers on time. As a business owner, each of those anniversaries was important. If you find yourself getting caught up in appearances, take a step back and consider how far you’ve come and how far you can go if you keep your eye on the prize and concentrate on growing and scaling your business.
Let go of the notion of perfection
There isn’t such a thing as a perfect leader. We are all human, and as a result, we are all prone to making mistakes. When you make a mistake as a leader, take responsibility for it. Don’t be afraid to confess to your teammates that you made a mistake or misjudged the situation, and then show them how you learned from or evolved from it. Your team members will admire you more in the long run.
Humble Yourself
A final piece of advice for avoiding the “appearances” pit is to be modest. You have an entire community rallying behind you to give you advice and encouragement as a business owner, but you must be patient enough to acknowledge the experience from those in the industry and admit that you don’t know anything.
They’re Probably Not Thinking of You
The truth is that people aren’t as concerned about you as you believe. So, when you’re lying awake at night worrying about what you said earlier in the day to someone, they’re probably fast asleep… and they’ve most likely forgotten the whole conversation you had with them.
So, if you’re worried about what other people think about you and your business, don’t be. Come to a stop. Take a deep breath and let go of the notion of perfection. Be grateful and humble. The end result would be well worth the effort.