Would You like a feature Interview?
All Interviews are 100% FREE of Charge
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Common sense says you should work on your business, not work on it. This seems like good advice, but is there more to it than that? In his book, The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It, Michael Gerber explains why business owners make this common mistake and how to avoid it.
For those who need a quick refresher, working in a business means performing tasks. This includes the tasks that business owners perform on a day-to-day basis, like hiring, producing products, and providing actual services.
As a small business owner, you likely do all of these things and more, as you often wear multiple hats. Working on your business means being strategic, envisioning the big picture, implementing systems, or scaling and growing your company – work that is undoubtedly important to the long-term sustainability of your operation.
It’s common for business owners to work long hours, and many would say it’s necessary, but they also enjoy their work.
gallop found 39% of business owners work more than 60 hours a week. study According to a study by OnDeck, “only 57% of small business owners take vacations.” With statistics like these, it’s easy to see why there are so many articles helping entrepreneurs break bad habits, free themselves from monotony, and get their employees to do more.
It all comes down to working on your business. It’s easy to tell business owners that they need to change the way they run their business, but some business owners are completely consumed with the idea that they don’t need or should not do certain types of work. After all, why should business owners work on writing sales proposals? Or dealing with customer emergencies? Are there no “people” to do that?
Probably, but is there a healthy balance between working for a company and working for a company? That balance will vary depending on the business, but I believe company owners and managers should be intentional about returning to the company from time to time. Working for a company can have great benefits.
Consider a popular reality TV show. Undercover boss, The show premiered on CBS in 2010. It featured companies like 7-Eleven, Waste Management, and others, and received very mixed reviews. Some called it “incredible,” while others found it heartwarming and realistic. One thing the show showed was that when you spend too much time in the “boardroom” instead of in the business, problems emerge – something I’ve seen firsthand.
Here are three key benefits of returning to business.
1. Improved communication
Communication may be one of a leader’s most important duties. Businesses function best when their owners communicate regularly, clearly, and concisely. But taking the time to listen is just as important. Think of water cooler conversations versus deeper interactions. When a business owner is unavailable and unreachable, it’s easy to miss the red flags. It’s easy to assume the job is done, a product or service is produced that meets a need, and customers are satisfied.
I have to admit that when I first started my business, there was a period when I was traveling a lot and I didn’t spend much time communicating with my staff. So I didn’t realize that one employee was bullying another while I was away. I only found out about it after an incident with a contractor happened. I fired the employee, but it taught me a big lesson about the value of being available and making time to connect and communicate. When you spend time in the business, you see how people interact. Ask questions and build relationships with people at all levels of the business. People need to have the opportunity to listen to leaders and express their opinions. Being there helps facilitate communication, builds trust, and avoids misunderstandings.
Related: How Effective Communication Increases Employee Productivity
2. Increased visibility
It’s easy to get lost in the business and spend hours thinking and planning in the office. I believe owners need to get out there and be visible – “walk the ground.” When you show up, you lead by example and show how important your work is. Simply show up to meetings and say hello. Put on your PPE and visit the factory floor. It’s amazing how safety becomes even more important when owners are visible. Increased visibility improves employee morale and engagement. It’s also good for business because it shows you’re holding your employees accountable.
Returning to business also means increased visibility from customers. For me, I’m taking the time to go out and do some video shoots and reconnect with my customers. Of course, there are people who do that, but for me, it’s a chance to get in touch again. In a time when so many interactions are virtual, making the effort to engage face-to-face makes a big impression. When you sit down to work on your business, the things you learn there will be truly valuable.
3. Hands-on learning
Business is always changing, and what worked in the past won’t necessarily drive your business forward. That’s why so many people embrace the mindset of lifelong learning. I’d go a step further and say there’s no better way to learn than to get back into the business and do some hands-on work. Learn a new software program. Or build a product. Of course, that’s not always possible, but you can work alongside your employees to understand their challenges and the resources they need. When business owners take the time to actually learn new things, it encourages everyone to learn and grow. The result is a business that can compete with the best.
Related: Why lifelong learning is key to entrepreneurial success
After all, for business owners, getting too far away from the business is a problem. Not spending enough time on strategy is a danger. A balance is the best approach.