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Everyone has a blend of strengths and weaknesses; fortunately, with work, it’s possible to improve both the strong and the weak points. To be an entrepreneur and an effective leader, it’s important to recognize areas where you may need help or improvement and to actively work on those areas so that you—and your business—can continue to grow.
But determining how to improve oneself isn’t always easy, so to help, nine members of Young Entrepreneur Council discuss some of the ways in which they actively work on their weaknesses in order to grow as leaders and business owners.
1. By Seeking Out Opportunities To Practice
I struggled with public speaking and presenting in front of a large audience. I knew that if I wanted to grow as a leader I’d have to work on this weakness and improve my public speaking skills. To work on this, I sought feedback from my team and I worked with a coach. I made efforts to improve my public speaking skills by practicing daily in front of the mirror. I actively looked for opportunities to speak in front of a small crowd. This helped me get more comfortable with public speaking. A good leader should always demonstrate self-awareness and a growth mindset. Just by acknowledging your weakness you can become a better leader for your business. – Benjamin Rojas, All in One SEO
2. By Embracing New Experiences
Stepping outside our comfort zones is essential for growth and development, not just as leaders but as individuals. I believe that embracing new experiences and continuously pushing ourselves to try new things can help us build on our strengths while improving our weaknesses. One practical example of this in my life is my recent decision to incorporate exercise into my daily routine, despite my initial hesitation and lack of prior experience in sports. I recognize the vital role physical activity plays in maintaining both physical and mental well-being, and I am eager to see how this small step toward embracing new challenges can positively impact my overall growth and leadership abilities. – Miles Jennings, Recruiter.com
3. By Recognizing My Limitations
My biggest weakness is that I overextend myself and rarely say “no” when someone asks me to do something. To combat this, I’ve been working on ways to get better at delegating my tasks and day-to-day responsibilities. Because I’m a leader, it’s important to recognize my limitations and trust others to help carry some of the workload. By delegating tasks, I can free up time and energy to focus on what’s truly important and lead my team effectively. Not everything that I do needs my immediate attention, and I have to trust that other people can help me. I constantly remind myself to be patient and to celebrate my progress along the way. – Andrew Saladino, Kitchen Cabinet Kings
4. By Surrounding Myself With Those I Admire
I surround myself with peers whom I admire. No matter what field you’re in, it can be so easy to get jealous of your peers’ accomplishments. “They got a promotion after being at a job for less time than me? Where’s my promotion?” or “They have a new office? Should I get a new office?” There comes a point where you have to say goodbye to the id and recognize that your peers have a lot to teach you. If they’re killing the game, learn from it. One of my favorite ways I’ve incorporated this into my life has been by starting a content creation channel with my sister. I trust her completely to tell me when my content isn’t hitting its mark or when something needs improvement. Having that honest feedback from someone I admire has been a huge factor in my growth. – Isabelle Shee, GROW
5. By Taking My Education Into My Own Hands
I started exploring search engine optimization in 2013 as part of growing our business. At the time, I had no idea how SEO worked, despite having some knowledge about search algorithms as a software engineer. However, I was determined to learn and improve in this area. I started by reading books, watching numerous Google office-hours videos and experimenting with different methods. Through a continuous learning process, my team and I mastered SEO, and we continue to engage in continuous learning today to stay up to date with the constant changes of search engines. This experience highlights the importance of continuous learning in addressing weaknesses and growing as a leader, especially in areas where formal education may not be readily available. – Kazi Mamun, CANSOFT
6. By Leveraging Self-Accountability Check-Ins
I use self-accountability check-ins to actively work on myself. I ask myself—and my team—the following questions: “What am I tolerating?” As in, what am I tolerating from myself, my clients, my team, my career? The next question is “What am I avoiding?” Is there anything I’m scared of, or that keeps me up at night or that I’m dreading? I find that when you tolerate things, it breeds resentment and poor boundaries. When you avoid something, it typically means you need additional support in that area. These self-accountability check-ins are massively valuable. – Rachel Beider, PRESS Modern Massage
7. By Asking For Feedback
We all have a blend of strengths and weaknesses; what matters is our pursuit of continued growth. One way I actively work on my weaknesses is by asking people close to me what leadership elements I could improve on. As humans, we rarely accurately assess our strengths and weaknesses, and I’ve found it incredibly useful and humbling to hear what I could do better from the people I trust. Of course, the most important thing is to implement what you have learned in a meaningful way. It’s one thing to know what to improve, and it’s another to put it into actionable steps. For example, if you struggle with delegating responsibility, you may find it helpful to use the Delegate and Elevate tool by EOS Worldwide. I am constantly reading books and using resources like this to grow as a leader. – Ryan Meghdies, Tastic Marketing Inc.
8. By Learning From Others
One effective way I work on my weaknesses is by learning from others who have achieved success in leadership and trying to incorporate a similar approach. This never-ending process brings forth my weaknesses and provides me with a guide on how to overcome them. I found that the key to improvement is to keep building a better version of yourself by learning from successful people without complacence. You cannot be perfect, but you can always improve and achieve better results in life. – Kelly Richardson, Infobrandz
9. By Having Advisors To Lean On
As a leader, it’s so important to have advisors and mentors to lean on. I’ve found that this is the only way to continually get feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on a regular basis. Beyond building your advisory board, it’s important to schedule regular check-ins so that both your advisors and you can develop a cadence of accountability. Without experienced people in your corner constantly giving you feedback, there’s no way to learn and grow as a leader. – Arian Radmand, IgnitePost
