One of the reasons why a lot of people come to running their own consultancy or solo business is they like being a team of one. They are fine in their own company. They find the idea of following their own path attractive.
What I have also observed as a coach for creative women is that they are quite often introverts. Which is not, by the way being shy and quiet (though it can be), it’s about getting energy from being alone or in small groups and finding too much company overwhelming.
Does this mean that connection with others is not important?
Not at all.
But, as a small business owner, it is very very easy, especially as an introvert, to fall into the routine of minimal contact with others, and not making connection part of their routine.
Connection is one of the key pillars of resilience that I talk about with clients and in my workshops. It’s such an important part of resilience and being able to grow and develop your business, that it worries me how many women aren’t making time for it – and are suffering as a consequence.
Connection is so important. It allows us to share our successes and our failures, ask for new ideas or points of view, get feedback, create accountability, set goals.
Connection, in whatever way you choose to do it, takes away loneliness, encourages us to see things differently, holds us safely as we take action. Seeing other people working in their business with their ideas, struggles, setbacks and breakthroughs is really empowering and enables us to reflect on ourselves better too.
Connection can be many, many things, it can be;
- Joining, or setting up, a mastermind group
- Having a coach or mentor
- Finding a business buddy
- Joining an online membership or programme
- Attending networking groups
- Chatting online to other small business owners
- Attending workshops and training sessions
If you don’t feel you have enough connection in your business, why not look at this list and see what might appeal to you? And remember, if you’d like to chat about 1:1 coaching or my group programme, you can book in for a discovery session through the link on this page.