Written by Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO
Wayne Elsey is the founder and CEO of Elsey Enterprises. Among his independent brands, he is also the founder and CEO of Funds2Orgs.
Staying ahead of trends and new business approaches is more vital than ever for successful entrepreneurs. Still, it's essential to consider that today's business leaders have unique challenges and opportunities to navigate. As we know, leaders and teams have to adapt quickly to change while maintaining efficiencies.
That means that leaders, future leaders, and teams have to ensure that they are resilient, flexible, and always looking through the windshield and not the rearview mirror. Relying on information from the past is no longer the map for the future, but some elements remain true once and always, especially with aspects of leadership and human nature.
Data-driven decision-making for successful entrepreneurship
One great opportunity that has come out of business in the digital age is the reality that leaders have data platforms. Modern technology tools easily surpass reporting done by business leaders and teams in the past. Today's tools can help predict customer behavior, provide analytics on conversations, and identify trends. In short, a data-driven approach to decision-making is a fundamental aspect of business success.
Project management and organization
A challenge in business is that there are many great opportunities. Sometimes, 'too much' is overwhelming. That's why project management and organization are more important than ever for business. Leaders and teams need to stay organized and on-task. Therefore, leaders should ensure their teams have created workflows supporting priorities and monitoring progress toward business goals.
Transparent communication by leaders
It used to be that communication was top-down. As we know, that’s no longer the case in the modern business environment. Effective information from the top down, bottom up, and across the organization is essential. That means using platforms that are seamless and integrate with other tech tools. Moreover, successful entrepreneurs must use different approaches to communication, such as videos and collaborative workspaces.
Leadership marketing and brand building
One thing that no entrepreneur can ever do is take their foot off the gas pedal of thought leadership, marketing, and brand building. Even if marketing isn't a priority for a business entrepreneur, it's essential to always keep an eye on what marketing and sales are doing. Moreover, global entrepreneurs need to position their personal brands, and that's done by creating and sharing thought leadership.
Customer relationship management by companies
Another essential activity that company leaders need to ensure is customer relationship management. Marketing and sales teams should provide leaders with dashboard reporting of customer interactions and the sales pipeline. By continuously providing that information to leaders and never letting up, successful entrepreneurs can make strategic decisions because they see the whole of a company and not simply its parts.
Cybersecurity and disaster recovery for companies
It's essential to recognize that not all business leaders are tech people. However, cybersecurity and disaster recovery aren't 'nice to do' but 'must do.' Recently, we saw the global IT outage that wasn't security-related. However, it created global havoc with companies from airlines to banks and even hospitals. Successful entrepreneurs can't skimp on disaster and cybersecurity planning. It's not just about keeping doors open but also about a company's reputation.
Continuous learning and business development
Leaders know that the tech era means their teams must continue learning and sharpening their skills. A number of years ago, this was the responsibility of workers, but not anymore. Leaders have to invest in time or money to ensure that their teams are on the vanguard of new approaches and technologies. Upskilling, peer networks, and continuous learning cultures are all vital for success.
Emotional and social intelligence by leaders
The modern business environment requires leaders to have high emotional and social intelligence levels. Leaders who use these skills know how to manage their emotions and influence the emotions and energy of their teams. Mastering emotional and social intelligence is essential for all successful entrepreneurs. Moreover, it allows leaders to address moments of conflicts and disagreements and ensure cohesion.
Getting the real scoop
The best leaders don’t want to hear what teams think they want to hear—they want to hear what they need to hear—even when it’s not something they want to hear. It’s essential for business leaders to keep their ears open and ask for feedback and insights through informal channels and direct meetings. The worst thing any leader can do is enter a feedback loop. The best leaders continually challenge their thinking and demand that of their teams.
Leadership growth
Ultimately, being a successful entrepreneur means being ready to grow and adapt continuously. However, with the right mindset and by developing soft and hard skills, any manager can become a visionary leader. We know the business climate is complex and ever-changing, but its complexities shouldn't be considered challenging. Instead, they are an excellent opportunity to build a thriving company.
© 2024 Wayne Elsey. All Rights Reserved.
Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO
Wayne Elsey is the founder and CEO of Elsey Enterprises. Among his independent brands, he is also the founder and CEO of Funds2Orgs. This social enterprise helps nonprofits, schools, churches, civic groups, individuals, and others raise funds while helping to support micro-enterprise (small business) opportunities in developing nations and the environment.
