5 things you never have to justify as a SME Leader, coz it's hard enough anyway!

Large corporations have larger systems and larger environments. In a small or medium sized business you have fewer places to hide. You get to have more autonomy, and agility, but even those can be overwhelming and exhausting in the face of constant comparisons with other people, and other organisations. The weight of expectations and needing to explain and justify (to anyone) what’s going on quickly leads to burnout, and will not help you to achieve your goals.

Rather than feeling the need to live up to judgey expectations, these are the 5 things you never need to justify as a leader in a SME (small or medium enterprise).

1.Setting your own version of success.

Multiple 7 figures and a team of 200 are NOT the only ways to measure success. You get to define success on your terms, and exactly how you want it to be.

Success can also mean:

• Social or environmental impact
• Income
• Culture
• Lifestyle
• The health and wellbeing of you and your team

2. Going at a pace that suits you.

This whole bigger, faster, further bullshit belongs back in the ’80s when it was a thang… Hustle culture generally leads to burnout. And I’m know you have things outside of your business that deserve your attention too. It’s a minefield! You don’t have to keep up with anyone. Theirs is a different path. Set the pace (and direction) that suits you. As long as you have clarity on, and are regularly checking in on your businesses strategic direction and goals, then you’re okay.

3. Hitting hurdles and shit storms along the way.

Business is hard, and can get messy. Of course there will be times when nothing seems to go according to plan. It’s totally normal to feel shame, sadness or frustration. What’s important is what you decide to do next. You can reset, rewind or restart anytime you want. Your successful business won’t just spring up overnight after a gentle stroll. Shits gonna get real too. When that happens ask what your best options are. It’s a basic exercise in optimism, and a complete game changer.

One more thing — you are not your business. It might feel like it sometimes, but holding that distance is important when you are under pressure.

4. Making mistakes.

For the love of gin and tonics on a summer's afternoon, you will fuck things up from time to time. That’s okay. It’s so much better to be moving and making mistakes than doing nothing at all and stagnating. Having a learn fast mentality so you can unfuck them, innovate, and make everything better will set you apart and get you ahead — on your terms!

5. Killing off the occasional office plant, and spending quite a long time browsing stationery… I’ve got plenty of experience here, and again, you never have to justify them!

…As for those judgy unrealistic and inappropriate expectations — the real kicker is that they might your own. Pay attention to where the judgement is coming from.

I’m a business owner too. I know how stressful, full on and challenging it is. I also know that I love never having to justify these 5 things.