Canadian Small Business Women

Connection, Synergy, Community

When should you say No?

Praveeni

 

“No” is something we may be used to hearing as entrepreneurs, for every yes there are at least five No’s that come before it, but saying it is something that may be unusual. As you become more established and gain more experience people will start to notice you; both for your work and your value. This attention can be a blessing and a curse as your workload and commitments will increase. But just how much work or involvement is too much? When is it time to start saying No? I’ve always had a difficult time declining business offers and saying no to people in general, until one day I realized I was agreeing just to oblige others with no real benefit to myself or my business. Here are a few rules I’ve come up with for instances when it is alright to decline an offer or say No

  1. There’s no benefit to your business
    As an entrepreneur may people will try to sell you products, services, their time etc. to “help” you. It’s important to take a step back and examine each offer to determine whether or not it actually benefits your business. If there is no direct benefit then simply say No.
  1. It doesn’t make you money
    When you run a business it’s easy to get sidetracked and caught up in pointless meetings – basically meetings that have no profit or networking potential. They’re usually the kind of meeting where someone will email or call to “hear more about your business”. Be weary of these kinds of offers, if you don’t believe you can build a mutually beneficial business relationship then decline.
  1. Beyond your expertise
    Sometimes people ask you for your help or advice. Being an entrepreneur doesn’t make you an expert at everything business related so know the limits of knowledge. If something is beyond your expertise explain that it is beyond your scope and recommend someone else who may be of assistance.
  1. Detrimental to your brand
    Being aware of your brand and the message you want to convey is key when running your own business. Thus you must be conscious about how each business decision affects your brand. If allying yourself with a person, group or company compromises your brand or company image decline the meeting or offer.
  1. You’re spread too thin
    Time is something we never have enough of as entrepreneurs. If you find your commitments are taking away from your personal time with family and friends, it’s time to revaluate and prioritize. With all the volunteer and community involvement opportunities out there it’s hard to decline calls to help out, but remember when something is no longer enjoyable it’s time to quit. Volunteering can range from sitting on a board to even helping out at your local hospital. As a rule of thumb try to engage in two volunteer activities maximum, this way you’ll be able to focus more on them and give it your best.

Praveeni Perera is the CEO and co-founder of Professional Edge Consulting a corporate training company based in Ottawa offering training and coaching services to clients around the world.  She can be reached via Website, Twitter, Facebook or her Blog.

Four People Entrepreneurs Should Thank At Christmas

Praveeni

Christmas is the time to be thankful for the year that passed and look forward to the year ahead. As an entrepreneur you have many people that help and assist you in both your professional and personal life. It’s important to show your appreciation to those that support you. Here are 4 people entrepreneurs should thank at Christmas :

  1. Clients 

You wouldn’t be in business without your clients so show them you appreciate their business. A card wishing them well for the holiday season and thanking them for their business is a nice gesture. Sending a handwritten card as opposed to a generic printed card is better as it adds a more personal touch. If you wish you can send your clients a corporate gift such as a calendar, paperweight or even chocolates with your company logo on them. Make sure your gift is addressed to your client and try to avoid non-addressed generic messages.

 

  1. Your team

Most entrepreneurs don’t go it alone, there’s always a few people you rely on to make your business work. Whether it’s your web designer or your intern you still have people to thank for helping you run your business. Thanking your team by sending a card or gift will show them you appreciate the work that they do and help strengthen your business relationship. If you work very closely with your team on a daily basis you can opt for a more personal gift such as a favourite bottle of wine or some home baked cookies, the important thing is to let them know they are valued.

 

  1. Suppliers

Suppliers provide you with products or services that help you run your business. Christmas is a good time to thank them for their services. Although you are a customer to them, finding suppliers that provide top quality products and services isn’t always easy so you should show your appreciation of their work. This will encourage them to continue to provide you with good quality products and services. Suppliers will also remember you and be more willing to go the extra mile for you if you’ve shown your appreciation. As an entrepreneur you should always strive to maintain a good relationship with your suppliers.

 

  1. Supporters

Every entrepreneur has supporters that provide encouragement and motivate you to keep going. Supporters are people who are not directly affiliated with your business but are a part of your network. They can be friends, mentors, former teachers or even family members. As an entrepreneur you should show appreciation for the people that keep you going throughout the year. Opt for a more personal gift for your supporters and make it clear that your are thankful for their encouragement of your entrepreneurial endeavours.

 

Praveeni Perera is the CEO and co-founder of Professional Edge Consulting a corporate training company based in Ottawa offering training and coaching services to clients around the world.  She can be reached via Website, Twitter, Facebook or her Blog.