Being a solopreneur means you have perseverance and a vision. In most cases, right at the beginning, you’re alone. You’ve built your very own business, and it’s thriving under your operation. It makes sense that you’re protective, but sooner or later, finding people to join you and help you execute your vision is inevitable. Every successful solopreneur has to eventually move on, and here’s how you can change your mindset from being a solopreneur to a team player.

Maximize strengths, delegate weaknesses
To grow your business, it’s important you have a good team and the right resources. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is essential if you want to find the right teammates to join your business. Determine what you’re good at and try to find the qualities you lack in others. This will help you prioritize the type of candidates you’re looking for when hiring, allowing you to maximize the potential of your business.

Your business is an investment, so think of your employees as the assets and diversify your portfolio. Hiring people who are strong in areas where you’re weak does not make you inferior, but increases the capabilities and talent of the asset pool.

Be self-aware and accept failure
Self-awareness is crucial for the success of your business. Part of it has got to do with realizing your weaknesses and areas of improvement, allowing you to build the right team. This is where accepting failure comes in. The quicker you can own up to your errors, the more respect you will get.

On the other hand, instead of pointing fingers when someone else makes a mistake, look at it as an opportunity to learn and develop. This creates an environment that encourages people to share ideas and grow together as a team. You’ll notice the difference when everyone feels comfortable voicing their ideas and opinions.

Communication is key
Communication is something that is most likely not at the centre of focus during your solopreneurship. Now, it’s an essential part of growing your business. Communication is the glue to your team and the single most important thing when it comes to being a team player. You can start by establishing an aggregated platform for all communications in the team, whether it be email, chat or video-calling.

Make sure everyone is on the same page when they leave meetings and that they are all working towards the right direction. It’s also recommended to have individual catch-ups with your team members. This is the perfect time to get to know your staff better and also get your vision across to them. It also allows employees to freely communicate with you. Use your catch-ups to effectively communicate expectations and increase transparency.

Overcome your control issues
The very idea of delegation can seem daunting in the beginning, almost as if you’re handing over your child to a group of strangers. You want everything to be perfect, but you don’t have to do everything yourself. Although you have the final word, handing over responsibilities to your team members allows you to free up the load off your shoulders. You’re then able to shift your priorities and focus on the bigger picture and the future success of your business rather than the daily tasks. After all, you know your business best.

Changing your entire mindset is challenging, but necessary in your transition from a solopreneur to a team player. Finding the right people and building the dream team will also make this transition much easier for you, but it’s also important that you trust them. In no time, your business will reach its full potential with you as its key team player.

Cloe Matheson started her freelance writing career from the beautiful city of Dunedin, NZ and has produced several articles for various local businesses such as Sea Containers. To see more of her published work, visit Cloe’s Writings.