A Small Business Leader’s Guide to Greatness in 2023

Small businesses are surviving the pandemic, inflation, hybrid work environments, supply chain issues, and labor shortages. I’m in awe of the continued resilience and tenacity of small business leaders whose success remains foundational to our local and national economies. In fact, small businesses still represent half of all jobs in this country and half the GDP, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Where I live in Buffalo, New York, small businesses are the backbone of the city’s redevelopment and growth.

Elevating the community and giving back is my thing. I courageously left my job as an attorney in Syracuse and moved to Buffalo nearly 25 years ago for a startup opportunity. Ultimately, I pursued a career in finance and spent nearly two decades advising business owners and private clients on their personal and business financial planning, wealth management, and banking. I started volunteering, joined business networks like The Rotary Club of Buffalo, and served on boards such as the WNY Women’s Foundation and most recently, the Community Action Organization of WNY. I have fallen in love with Buffalo through the eyes of the “City of Good Neighbors” and the business leaders who contribute to its renaissance.

I recently pivoted and became certified as an executive coach to follow my true passion for helping leaders grow, make better decisions, and live their best life possible. I am excited to lead Buffalo’s only Small Business Vistage group, where I create the conditions of possibility for transformation—guiding leaders through their own personal and professional renaissance.

Vistage is built on a time-tested model that regularly brings non-competing CEOs and business owners together to help take them and their businesses to the next level. Vistage members are committed to supporting one another in their journey and understand they will go farther together than they ever could alone. Imagine having such a tight-knit brain trust at your disposal that is solely interested in your success, as YOU define it. These members care about you enough to get under the hood, guide you in course corrections, and provide you with valuable perspective and advice. What a priceless gift. The experience fosters close relationships, specifically group support, professional mentoring, one-to-one coaching with me, and connection to a network of 45,000 leaders worldwide.

Good to Greatness

My lifelong work of understanding what business owners face and helping them navigate the journey means I’m often reflecting on what makes a leader great. While leadership has many facets, there are some core consistencies, especially for small business owners. They are likely wearing many hats, involved in and juggling day-to-day operations, and probably looking to scale (or not, and that’s okay). Every leader has a different vision, but they all struggle with similar challenges.

Most often, the greatness in a great team starts with the leader, the one who sets values, standards, and expectations. As we look ahead to 2023 and the possibility of a recession looms, let’s examine five powerful qualities that will help leaders weather ongoing challenges and uncertainty:

Know Thyself. We all have our own identities and self-concept. But how others experience us usually comes from our observable (objective) behaviors. Great leaders work to understand and reconcile others’ perceptions with their own self-concept because doing so impacts their relationships, culture, and profitability. It’s not about being liked or popular; it’s about the self-awareness required to get along, establish trust, be respected, and influence outcomes. There are various 360° assessment tools in the marketplace. I am certified to administer Hogan Personality Assessments which provide data-based insights to maximize organizational success. This can be foundational in developing self-awareness and identifying what you might adapt to achieve your goals around relationships, outcomes, and lasting organizational impact.

Have a Bird’s Eye View of Your Business. Small business owners are involved with a massive volume of daily activity, so it’s easy to get stuck in the weeds. Great leaders allocate time to regularly step out of the business and examine it from 30,000 feet just as a board of directors would. This allows you to disconnect from your ego and think strategically about the organization going forward rather than spinning your wheels on unresolved issues. A Vistage group provides a consistent forum for business owners to step away from the noise and work?on?their business. Those that do reap personal and financial rewards. I like to say that leaders need to create the space to soar to a higher altitude.??

Be a Great Leader of Your Own Life. Successful leaders are comfortable with two full-time jobs. They understand they must manage themselves well to manage others effectively. No one will follow or be inspired by a leader who isn’t grounded in their core values, cannot control their emotions, doesn’t manage their life well, or is a poor communicator. The backlash affects culture and profitability. Managing yourself needs to be your first thought, not the afterthought. That’s why Vistage meetings begin with a check-in on the whole person, including business, personal life, and health.

Practice Gratitude. When you focus on the good things in life, you naturally become more positive. Great leaders take time to be thankful for what they have and express gratitude to those who helped make it happen. Studies show that leaders who regularly express sincere gratitude to their staff promote job satisfaction, which can reduce turnover and improve productivity. Gratitude also improves your overall well-being. I experience this firsthand by keeping a gratitude journal. Giving thanks and counting my blessings first thing each morning before I get out of bed keeps my mind from running amok and creating stress about the to-dos of the day. If I miss a day of journaling, I notice a distinct difference in my attitude and perspective. Our energy, words, and body language impact everything and everyone we touch.?How do you want to show up? What do you want to create?

Ask for Help. Google is one heck of a resource, but it only gets you so far. We all need real humans; with experiences they are willing to share. A great leader has the courage to be vulnerable, put their hand up and say three powerful words, “I need help.” Often the best resource to solve a problem comes from someone in a similar role who has solved it in a different industry. In Vistage, member peers from non-competing industries help each other vet ideas, troubleshoot strategies, and find solutions together—sharing learnings from their struggles, successes, and failures.?

Destination Greatness

Being a Vistage coach, known as a Chair, brings me joy every day, especially on the tough days. Helping members with the simple yet pivotal decision to be better than they are right now is a sacred bond we all share.

Vistage members aren’t just buddies! They are Western New York business leaders committed to helping you navigate what’s right for you and your company, and helping you get there. It’s a real honor to guide Vistage members in building their companies, perfecting their vision, and elevating their communities within and even beyond our “City of Good Neighbors.” And it’s a real joy to witness the magic that happens when a leader becomes, quite simply…great.

I want every small business owner to feel that joy. That’s my why. To learn how the growing Vistage community in Buffalo can help you unleash your greatness, connect with me or email [email protected].