Why small business owners need to become leaders

Small business owners and managers are asked to wear many hats – as a senior person in a resource-constrained organisation they can often lead sales, marketing, customer service and many other functions. No wonder, as shown in a recent survey by Westpac and Deloitte, that they struggle to complete paperwork, wrangle red tape and manage ever-rising costs.To succeed and grow, small business managers, therefore, need to be at the top of their game. They need critical thinking and problem-solving skills to find new ways of growing their businesses. Digital literacy skills can also help, by giving them access to efficient online sales and marketing channels. However, many small business managers never receive formal training in any of these areas. They develop leadership skills on the job, sometimes through trial and error. Even if they attain those skills at a high level, their informal experience is not recognised if they look for jobs in larger or more complex organisations.