I am not by nature the slightest bit interested in being the boss of anyone. That is one of the things that draws me to the type of work I do and the way I do it—I don’t want to have to tell anyone else what to do and I don’t particularly like it when someone tells me what to do! BUT, as we go about the running and operating of our home businesses, we do need to remind ourselves that we ARE the boss—there are plenty of times when we need to act like the one who is in charge.
If customers, clients, vendors, etc. are going to develop confidence in your abilities as a business owner, you will need to set the tone. This means that even if you feel like a bumbling beginning, there will be times when you need to take on the authority and “buck stops here” attitude befitting the boss of a growing small business. What behaviors do people think of as “boss like?” The ability to make decisions and decide on the direction of the business, responding to complaints without losing one’s cool, negotiating contracts and sales, and planning for future growth are all things that people see and expect from someone who is in charge.
People want to do business with people they think are competent, capable and trustworthy. This is what it means to act like the boss—we’ve got to let people know that we are running our businesses (not that they are running us!) even if we don’t always feel like the most confident of entrepreneurs. This isn’t an excuse to act arrogant and bossy or act like you know EVERYTHING. Remember, even if you don’t know exactly what should be done, you are the boss of your home business—so act like one!
See Also: The Cost of Being “Boss Free”