Tweet

Small-business growth: Transformation is required

Written by: Rachel Clarkson

Article Overview: Business growth constantly puts a leader in new positions that require learning, new perspectives, new skills and new stamina. If the leader relies upon what has served in the past, it may not serve in the future. Mastering transformation is crucial to keep up with the changes in one’s organization.

Small-business growth: Transformation is required

Growth is the lifeblood of entrepreneurship and business success. It is also the lifeblood of our economy. But growth requires work, change and transformation. Perhaps most importantly, growth requires personal transformation in the leadership of the organization. Most small-business owners have enough knowledge, experience and resources to get themselves into business. However, few have the depth and breadth of knowledge, experience and skills to remain capable as a leader as the business grows– unless they grow too. Growth brings increasing demands, of:

• complexity
• management
• human systems
• financial management
• competitive response
• planning
• training
• development
• technology and information management
• and leadership itself.

Hence, the leader must transform to adapt to all of these changes. The leadership skills, experience and methods that were appropriate for a three-person startup operating out of a garage will not serve a 100-person firm or a multicultural international enterprise. Business growth constantly puts a leader in new positions that require learning, new perspectives, new skills and new stamina. If the leader relies upon what has served in the past, it may not serve in the future. Unfortunately this realization may come too late, unless the leader is ready and prepared for change, expecting, waiting and preparing for it rather than being forced into it or surprised by it.

Some leaders embrace change, while others fear it. Some get easily “stuck” in old patterns, beliefs and limiting cultures, while others embrace new knowledge, new ways of thinking and new communities. I advise all my clients that mastering transformation is a required attribute of successful leaders and an essential resource for sustaining business growth.

Mastering transformation, the ability to change with the changes in one’s organization, can be both “taught” and “caught.” It can be learned, practiced and mastered, much like a martial art. The key to success in this is becoming a good student, becoming dedicated to the process, and learning to enjoy the process as part of personal and professional life. Here are some useful steps to mastering transformation:

• Find a mentor or group of mentors. Every martial artist has a sensei, a master who has done it before and can teach the steps, the methods and help show the way and guide the practice.
• Find transformation “buddies”: Find peers who are growing companies who you can share your experiences and issues with. Transformation has consequences, including fear, uncertainty, questions, and
• Educate yourself. New knowledge is transformation in itself
• Practice: No great martial artist became a black belt without lots of practice. And they did not practice alone. Transformation is like your body, it needs practice to learn, build stamina, to build repetitive reinforcement and to “spar” and learn from transformation in the real arena of your business. Drive to work on a different route, listen to different music, dress differently. Practice change, every day. Become accustomed to it.
• Get feedback: Trying to be a self-evaluator of one’s own transformation is like watching your hair grow. Let others give you feedback and advice.

The most important thing to remember is that growth requires change, which means that transformation is not elective, it is required.

So, instead of waiting, get going. Like beginning a martial art, expect it to be awkward, sometimes painful and even embarrassing. However, like martial arts, which are some of the finest forms of physical and mental conditioning on the planet, once you’re in the groove, the workout, the practice, the sparring and the community become fun, something to look forward to and a part of being superbly fit and capable to take on adversity and change.

Get yourself into a routine, with a mentor, practicing changing regularly. If you dedicate yourself to becoming a great leader, you will develop a mastery practice of transformation.

Related Articles
  Five Strategies to Help you Break Free of What is Standing Between You and Your Success - A Bit of Context
  Accelerating Organizational Change
  Transformation Opportunities are All Around Us
  4.0 Diversification trends in Africa: Economic Report on Africa 2007
  The Five Most Important Lessons of Entrepreneurship

Article Tags: business growth, business transformation, small business



Related Forum Posts
Growth? - when we say "Grow" are we talking about growth in scale or growth in their bottom line. I feel when business owners talk about money their main concern is to have their current customer buy in more frequency and thus improving their bottom line i.e through referrals, joint-ventures etc. growth in scale can be scary due to the amount of risk and effort required to undertake it. Not to mention the owners also being concerned about being in more than one place at once as they haven't in most cases systematized their businesses.
Re: Personal Mastery And Leadership - Hi John Interesting article I would agree that to gain self mastery one needs to spend time on personal development as this is the basis for any growth within a human being. Without personal growth we stagnate and that must be an awful way to live. MichelleJ
Re: Obama or McCain? - [quote="Evan":2ej407hf]For our international readers, who would you vote for if you could and why?[/quote:2ej407hf] Maybe it sounds cynical, but I don't know if it really matters who is in office or if people even vote. Politicians can promise economic growth, lower education fees, cheaper gas prices, change and growth... but the more important question is will either person deliver on those promises?
Growing ... or not - I've seen this done successful and I've seen disastrous results. From the expansions I've seen, a lot depends on the business owner and/or manager. Some people can run a business if it stays on an even keel, but many are simply not qualified to handle a business "explosion". Its wonderful to have the opportunity to grow your business in a hurry, but if the people or person in charge can't handle the growth, it can be really ugly and can cause huge problems within the business. Having the right people in place to deal with the growth is a key to making it work for you and not against you. Shri
Free equity stake in Online patent selling business - A rare opportunity to obtain an equity stake in a successful business with no upfront costs. Established recently this business has access to a number of secured patents ready to be sold to potential investors. Selling worldwide, there are major opportunities for organic growth and gaining healthy commissions for product promotion. The current owners are seeking an energetic businesslike self-starter with a hunger for success. You will not be required to input any capital, but an equity share of up to 30% (in increments), and a corresponding share of the trading profits, is available on successfully hitting profit targets. This is an extraordinary opportunity. you will be closely supported by the owners and encouraged at every step. An interest in patents and intellectual property is desirable, but the key factor is your willingness to work hard to develop an even stronger business.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Steps For Starting A Small Business

How to Handle the “I Am Not Interested” Objection

Live To Work Or Work To Live?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.