When things go wrong in the business world, your first reaction might be to look for someone to blame. Solo entrepreneurs, especially, are quick to identify the culprit.
Their outsourced expert made a mistake.
They don’t have the budget to provide any better.
The client didn’t explain clearly what they wanted.
The blame list is long. But, while there is some level of truth – aka you may not be directly responsible for the problem – it’s time for solo entrepreneurs to own up to their mistakes without fear. By becoming accountable for the good and the bad in your business, you are more likely to fix things. Stop blaming others; you’re missing out on a self-improvement opportunity.
What does it mean to be accountable?
Being accountable is not the same thing as being responsible. Indeed, when you’re responsible, you have the ability to control your activities, and that makes you answerable when things go wrong. Being accountable is a little different. It implies that you have to report on the issue and explain it. For solo entrepreneurs, accountability encourages them to get involved in the areas that might not receive sufficient attention – either because they haven’t found the right person for the job or they lack resources to improve the process. Accountability is the first step of getting in charge, and therefore, it’s the best strategy for growth.
Accountability for your number crunching solutions
Side hustlers or small business owners prefer to run their bookkeeping figures in-house, in an effort to save costs. Additionally, you can find plenty of helpful online tools that can do all the hard work for you. Except that just because a tool can replace your calculator, it doesn’t mean the results will be accurate. Accounting mistakes are too often blamed on the invoicing and bookkeeping solution used in the business. In reality, without accounting knowledge such as CPA prep courses online, you’re unlikely to make the most of the available tools. When you embrace your accountability, you get to boost your skills.
Accountability for your online presence
Don’t be fooled by the idea that social media success requires high capital. Some of the most successful local influencers on Instagram or YouTube don’t have any budget to invest in their marketing presence. However, they dedicate their efforts to creating quality content, both in terms of topic and image quality. You can’t afford to wait until you find a social media manager to create an engaging and informative platform. Ultimately, if you don’t care enough to get your content right, why should your audience care?
Accountability for business mishaps
Finally, bad reviews happen to everyone. Sometimes, it may not have been your fault, but when a customer leaves negative feedback, you need to respond and apologize. Apologizing is a way for your business to become accountable for the issue and to resolve it. Ultimately, apologizing is an essential part of your growth strategy, because as long as you acknowledge your mistakes, you remain trustworthy.
Solo entrepreneurs and side hustlers are touchy about exposing the failures and mishaps of their businesses. They believe that by showing their accountability, they reveal their flaws. In reality, making yourself accountable brings your involvement with the process at the center of attention. It offers you the chance to learn and improve, something that customers and partners appreciate.
