When we achieve massive growth in our small business, the owner’s leadership role must evolve quickly. The team needs to be dynamic as well. Technology has eliminated the role of the 1960s “secretary”.
The more modern title of Executive Assistant (EA) is also too stagnant for what most of our #XtraMiler clients need in their fast-growing small businesses.
We have coined the term Small Business Xcelerator (SBX) for this entrepreneur support role. The role should be designed with several factors in mind.
1. What is the business owner/entrepreneur’s profile:
We are talking about strengths, DiSC, and motivators for the leader. We are often tempted to hire people that are just like us when we want to grow our team, however, this is rarely helpful.
We need an SBX who compliments our strengths and covers our weaknesses.
2. Role-Based Xceleration:
Early in our growth, the SBX was purely administration and accounting. Later, we needed an abundance of attention on marketing activity and administration. Now, with a highly complex model operating in multiple markets, we have a Chief Business Xcelerator who leads a small team to keep everything moving forward.
Check out this table to help you define and create the perfect SBX role for your SMB.
3. Flexibility:
When the business is growing fast, a talented SBX who grows with the role will be a key lever for the owner/entrepreneur. We have seen (and placed) talented late-career men and women in these roles, whose diverse experiences and wisdom strengthen the business.
We have seen young, curious, gritty learners in these roles whose growth pushed their owners to keep finding the next level.
Tune in next week and we will walk you through the process of recruiting, hiring, and onboarding an SBX for your business.