Nancy Solari January 19, 2021 Being a business owner with a limitation often brings unforeseen challenges and requires substantial perseverance. It can feel overwhelming and frustrating when your disability requires more time to read, hear, or travel to places. It’s almost like gearing up for a really intense workout everyday; but when you find the formula for being a successful leader, the payoffs are always rewarding. Here are 4 ways to leverage your limitations and turn them into superpowers as a business owner.
1. Lead By Delegating
When you have a limitation, there may be business operations you physically cannot do. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, so it’s important to be comfortable delegating tasks. Being able to effectively assign responsibilities to people on your team will allow your business to run smoothly. If you know your limitation makes it difficult to read or write as quickly as someone else, delegating those tasks will save you valuable time. Being a strong leader means knowing where you are needed and where you are not. For someone with a disability, delegating is a path to greater efficiency.
2. Seek Assistance
As a business owner, it’s common to feel pressured to oversee every project, meeting, and day-to-day operations on your own. This is even more challenging and draining when you have a limitation, which is why hiring an assistant is a game changer. When you bring in someone to help out, it infuses your business with new energy and can have a positive impact on how your business grows. An assistant might offer support for jobs that are outside of your wheelhouse. Instead of spending time laboring at trivial tasks that are difficult because of your limitation, hire a dedicated team member to support you. This will allow you to leverage your other talents, and focus on accomplishing more for your business.
3. Be Honest
A vital step in leveraging your limitations and turning them into superpowers is being honest with yourself. Sometimes we want to be the hero and engage in every aspect of our business, even when we physically or mentally cannot. This result is often frustration and exhaustion. Being honest about your limitations, means you can focus on finding the right people to bring in support, which also builds camaraderie within your team. Understanding your capabilities and limitations will allow you to discover even more strengths and areas where you can improve. The end result is greater confidence, which makes you a more empowered leader.
4. Remember The Glass Is Half Full
There will always be unexpected curveballs and new challenges, and it’s easy to place the blame on your disabilities. Having a glass-half-full mindset will help you stay optimistic and focused. If you let your limitations become an excuse for a disappointing workday or failed outcome, then you will be unable to motivate people and lead effectively. Instead, remind yourself that each day is a new opportunity to make adjustments and modify. Even if your limitations require putting in more effort than others, remember your natural talents may be used to your advantage. The key is to remain positive, which is a contagious trait that inspires your team to work harder.
Successful visionaries of companies are able to develop skills as they go and learn on the fly. This is even more important when you are a business owner with a limitation. Being able to change your mindset, find assistance, or self-correct when you encounter new challenges in the corporate world is the path to turning your disability into a superpower.
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