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When Black women entrepreneurs set goals for our businesses, how often do we set goals for our own professional development? If you haven’t taken the time to identify key entrepreneurial skills that can level up your leadership and profitability, now’s the time, Sis. Professional growth is critical to becoming the kind of CEO who inspires her team, builds sustainable businesses, and thrives in competitive markets.
Here are key areas to focus on for your entrepreneurial growth plan and how to take action:
Grow Your Ability to Lead People
To build a thriving business, you need to know how to set people up for success and inspire them to do their best work. Developing your skills as a leader means learning to create clear expectations, empower your team, and foster a culture of accountability and collaboration. But that’s just the beginning—here’s how you can take your leadership to the next level:
- Plan Out Roles Strategically: Learn how to design roles that align with your company’s core functions and goals.
- Build a Culture Where Teams Thrive: Create an environment where values aren’t just talked about but are operationalized in daily practices.
- Manage Onboarding and Offboarding Effectively: Develop a structured process to welcome new hires and maintain continuity with departing employees.
Grow as a Data-Driven Leader
Making decisions based on data rather than instinct is a hallmark of successful entrepreneurs. To lead with confidence and precision, you must cultivate the ability to interpret and act on the right metrics. Here’s how you can grow as a data-savvy CEO:
- Leverage Customer Journey Data: Understand the customer’s journey to optimize their experience.
- Gain Insights from Customer Data: Use data to refine offerings and anticipate customer needs.
- Run Data-Driven Team Meetings: Translate data into actionable insights for meaningful team discussions.
- Know Which Data to Use: Focus on key performance indicators (KPIs) that matter most.
- Avoid Data Puking: Present actionable insights instead of overwhelming with excessive data.
Transform the Way You Manage Time
As your business scales, your role as CEO shifts from being in the trenches to leading from a higher vantage point. This evolution requires a thoughtful approach to managing your time and your team’s time. Here’s how you can master time management to drive growth:
- Get Better at Delegating and Deploying Man-Hours: Assign work strategically based on priorities and impact.
- Increase Productivity in Meetings: Make meetings intentional, concise, and results-driven.
- Leverage Your CEO Hours for High-Value Activities: Focus on activities that only you can do as CEO.
- Adapt Time Allocation to the Business’s Growth Stage: Adjust how you spend your time based on the business’s stage of growth.
Evolve in the Way You Respond to Challenges
The ability to handle challenges with clarity and resilience is a key leadership skill. Focus on developing emotional intelligence and problem-solving skills to stay grounded and solutions-oriented.
Shift Your Mindset About Capital
It’s essential to understand the difference between operating capital (used for day-to-day expenses) and growth capital (used to expand the business). This knowledge allows you to make smarter financial decisions and position your business for long-term success.
Create a Learning Plan
Growth doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intentionality. Build a learning plan that includes:
- A robust reading queue: Include books and podcasts that challenge your thinking.
- A coach or mentor: Invest in someone who can guide your journey and provide accountability.
- The Sistahbiz Suite: Access curated resources, tools, and support to level up your skills.
Commit to Execution
Don’t just learn—apply what you learn. Document your commitments and put them into action. Execution is where growth becomes tangible.
Remember, Sis, investing in your growth is one of the smartest moves you can make as an entrepreneur. You have what it takes to lead, innovate, and thrive—now, let’s make it happen.