Written by Danielle Levy, Business Coach & Strategist
Danielle Levy is a sought-after business consultant who helps business owners expand with clarity and efficiency. Danielle is also the Founder and CEO of The Boardroom League™, a team of experts providing holistic business consulting and implementation services for entrepreneurs.
As a small business owner, you no doubt have experienced the thrill of building something from the ground up. You’ve nurtured it with your vision, values, and hard work.
However, there may come a time when your business outgrows you. When you struggle to meet your existing workload.
When you spend hours doing administrative work rather than the heavy lifting you prefer.
When that happens, the thrill you once felt can become exhaustion, resentment, and burnout. You get so stuck in the weeds your business stops growing.
I’ll be the first to tell you that the transition from solo to CEO can be daunting.
You know you need to treat your business like a business and not some side hustle.
But it almost feels like starting over as you weigh the pros and cons of adding to your one-person team. And all the responsibilities that come with it.
And yet, that nagging feeling won’t go away. You want more.
You want to grow, make a bigger impact, and make more money.
So, if this is you, if you’re one of the millions who decide it’s time to transition from solo to CEO, there’s a lot to consider.
First, let me reassure you: You are not starting over from scratch—not when you have these
.
Three strategies to make your transition from solo to CEO
1. Build an efficient team
If you build an efficient team, a large chunk of your company can practically run itself. If done strategically, the return on your investment is huge, both for your bottom line and your time.
This means you probably won’t hire the first person who responds to your job post or even the first person you interview.
Your goal should be building a cohesive team for the right tasks with a group that shares your vision, values, and passion for the business.
However.
Building a team can be a full-time job if you don’t have a process to expedite the process. But you will!
That’s why I highly recommend The Solo to CEO System. This is the system you NEED if you want to hire an efficient and capable team without spending months or weeks in the process.
2. Streamline your systems
Without established systems, you can spend hours, if not days, accomplishing little.
For example, you could spend hours each week responding to emails, managing client inquiries, or organizing your schedule. You could also spend months writing job descriptions, posting job ads, and interviewing to find the right team member.
Implementing structured systems can free up time for more strategic business areas. Some examples may include email templates, a project management system, the use of a customer relationship management system (CRM), a centralized document system, and scheduling software.
But that’s just the beginning.
You should also create standard operating procedures (SOPs) for everything you can think of. I’m talking about hiring, client onboarding, team member onboarding, customer service protocols, emergency response systems, communications protocol, and more!
If it sounds like a lot, imagine how much time you’ll spend if you don't have a system in place for the above scenarios. That’s why putting in the effort in the beginning is far more efficient than winging it as you go.
3. Improve leadership skills
As a leader, you cannot afford to be complacent. Developing leadership skills is important because they affect every aspect of your business, from team culture to growth, productivity to retention, and so much more.
So, what can you do?
Assess: What are your strengths and weaknesses? Not sure? Take an assessment here.
Feedback: Seek honest feedback from mentors, peers, and team members who know you best.
Invest: Whether it’s workshops, books, or other continuing education, the point is just to keep learning!
Empower: Empower your team with opportunities for growth and responsibility. Need help getting started? Grab this free tool.
Transitioning from solo to CEO can be intimidating. As your business grows, so do the opportunities for being overwhelmed.
Whether hiring your first team member, changing how you see your business, trying to step away from the day-to-day, or developing your fledgling systems and processes, it can feel like a LOT.
That’s why it’s crucial to have a strategy in place beforehand. So, if you’re thinking about a shift from solo to CEO or are already on your way, embrace these tips to help make it a breeze.
And hey, if you’re reading all this and left thinking, OK… now what?
Let’s chat! Schedule a discovery call with me today. We can review which systems you need, how to implement a streamlined hiring and onboarding process, methods to develop your leadership skills, and more.
Let’s embark on this journey together.
Danielle Levy, Business Coach & Strategist
Danielle Levy is a sought-after business consultant who helps business owners expand with clarity and efficiency. Danielle is also the Founder and CEO of The Boardroom League™, a team of experts providing holistic business consulting and implementation services for entrepreneurs. She holds an MBA, is certified as a Project Management Professional, and is a FG Certified Master Marketer.
Danielle has 15 years of agency experience, helping her bring a unique perspective to all of her clients. A problem solver at heart, she believes in helping business owners go from Chief of Everything Officer to Chief Executive Officer, so they can focus on their vision, instead of being distracted by day-to-day business obligations. By establishing solid business foundations and implementing streamlined systems, Danielle's clients are not only able to regain their freedom but also rediscover the joy of running their businesses.
In 2021, Danielle founded The Boardroom League™ to guide executives turned business owners through current challenges and future advancements by providing bespoke business consulting and implementation. The Boardroom League takes a phased approach to business consulting, offering expertise in a variety of areas; including business leadership, financial guidance, legal advisory, marketing, and more.
In her personal life, Danielle is an energetic mother of two boys, who understands the balance of being both a hockey Mom AND a successful entrepreneur.
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