Small Business Vulnerability
Are you willing to share your thoughts, mistakes, and other foibles, not to mention your wins and triumphs?
Have you ever been in a strategic planning session, workshop, or presentation, and suddenly, there is an unexpected portion of the session where you have to interact with people at your table? When the facilitator makes the announcement, you always hear some uncomfortable shuffling of chairs and perhaps an almost inaudible groan, “Oh, but must we really?” (was that you thinking that?)
The energy vibrations of those who don’t want to participate in the exchange of ideas and have a “session” is palpable. Some are happy to come and throw out an idea or two to be popped up on the flipchart but really don’t want to have a discussion with four or five others at the table.
Even worse is if you are sitting at the table with people you don’t know or are not very friendly with and you are asked to “pair-off”. Chills down my spine!
Yes, I am confessing to my introverted character. Or am I? Am I using the idea that I am an introvert to avoid fully participating? Have I just told my brain that sharing and perhaps even being vulnerable is not fun? Maybe.
Sharing and being vulnerable about my thoughts and feelings is difficult for me. I believe I speak for the male species on this one. We aren’t wired to express our feelings. Arguably some women have a hard time expressing their feelings as well. Let’s be fair.
However, I am here to argue that expressing your feelings and being vulnerable might work in certain settings. One area would be small and medium-sized business coaching.
In the late 2,000s’ I created a business mentoring program in the community in which I worked that relied on the ability of small businesses to be vulnerable, to share their feelings, and to show up ready to discuss their failures, challenges, and of course, wins and triumphs. The program brought mentors and proteges together for discussions every month.
The results of the program were positive. Our evaluations told us that businesses liked several things about the program:
- The amount of time spent each month was just enough and not too much. It did not interfere with their need to grow their business and create a balanced family life. (the program required monthly meetings of approximately 90 minutes each).
- Being matched with other businesses that were different from their own provided diverse ideas and discussions and potential innovation of practices and operations.
- It provided a place of empathy and support that perhaps wasn’t even present at home or among friends and co-workers.
- It allowed them to network, refer and help each other.
- The Mentors, seasoned business owners, said they learned as much or more than their proteges.
It was a well-received program, but what I thought was the most important thing was that it allowed the business owners to help other business owners in a way they wouldn’t otherwise be able to do. That was an unintended outcome that I wasn’t planning.
In his book Community Startups, Brad Feld stresses that the entrepreneurial support system must be formed and supported by the entrepreneurs themselves. It can’t be the economic development organization, the Chamber, or the City. They can help get things started but must step out of the way.
That was my inspiration. Get things started and get out of the way. We accomplished that.
The program mentioned above is called Circles of Seven or C7 and is now available as a turnkey program for communities. Check out C7 at the website here.
Right now, there is a special offer on the C7 program. The program’s kickoff is in full swing, and we are looking for communities who want to try it. Licensing fees will be heavily discounted if you act soon. Contact us through the website above, or schedule a call here.
