Become A Captain to Your Business
The Captaincy of a ship or unit of personnel in battle or peace times is a title and role which carries a great weight of responsibility. Coveted and honored, a Captain is a senior leadership role in every military and is earned academically as well as through tried and tested experience endured as a junior officer. A leader and strategist, Captains have the responsibility to not only lead their team but control and understand all the moving parts of their unit, mechanical, logistical and technical. Suffice to say a Captain wears a lot of hats and bears a great weight of responsibility.
As a small business owner, you are the captain of the ship, the leader, not simply in corporal terms but as a technical expert as well. It is imperative you understand all the inner workings of your metaphorical ship, your business. From the engine room up to the bridge no quadrant or nook of your vessel should be untraversed by your prodding eye, constantly seeking improvement, optimization and efficiency. A ship, just like a business is a living and breathing organism encompassing within it all the complexities associated.
Being a Captain, is being present, aware at all times, having a keen understanding of the ship’s inner workings, obstacles which might hinder the journey or mission, from the crew on board to the weather at sea, a captain determines the obstacles and deals with them in a swift and resolute fashion. The key to doing so is being able to always have a finger on the pulse, actively listen and be involved in all aspects of the mission by becoming aware of and able to process all information available both internally and externally.
A Captain always has a mission, on land or sea the goal is set, and he determines the course and action to take in order to arrive at a destination or resoundingly achieve a set objective. A good Captain not only possesses strong leadership skills but has tremendous foresight. With foresight he can plan for and conquer any obstacles in the way of the journey.
This is done chiefly through thorough research, charting and planning. Planning ahead means efficiently aligning a course and with that the ability to embark on the journey or mission with confidence and stability. As the old adage goes, if a ship knows not what port it sails to, no wind is favorable. Determining your objectives, setting realistic goals and strategizing how to achieve them is all part of the process.
These same principles align with you as a business owner especially at the outset of your endeavor. Think of your brand as that ship, all the moving parts, engine, crew, cargo, mission all as one and under your command. How would you act if all those such responsibilities were on your shoulders? For sure with more attention to detail, your actions would be conducted more pragmatically and deliberately, decision-making more measured and sound.
Treat your team and your business in the same way a good Captain would his crew, ship and mission. Traverse the rough seas and arrive to port a victor of the turbulent waves and this perilous journey.
To gain personalized guidance for your business on this topic and others contact us.
- Vince Calace
Founder - Venture Business Development