Overcoming self-doubt in business

Being in business can be rewarding and also stressful all at once. At times, you're on top of the world, and then you find yourself in a bit of self-doubt and with concerns about the future of your business growth.

Here are a few ways to keep moving your business ahead with confidence:

Revisit your goals

If you’ve had a bit of a rough patch, revisit your long-term goals. If you’ve got these written down somewhere, go back and study them. Maybe the goals were unrealistic, and potentially this is the reason why you've not been able to achieve them. Make sure your goals are reasonable and in tune with your resources. Reconnect to the ‘why’ of your business - is it to help others, to other businesses, delight your customers. Find what it is that got you started and refresh your commitment to this value. 

Become part of a community

Running a small business can be isolating too. You don’t have a team around you for support, to bounce ideas off, to turn to for advice. You miss the chatter and realise the challenge in making new connections. It helps to network, to participate in online communities and attend webinars or video calls. Do what you can to belong to a community by checking out shared office spaces in your area, join your local BNI New Zealand group, sponsor a local sports team or charity and get your brand out into the community.

Celebrate your achievements

It’s easy to experience an element of doubt when things aren’t going well, so try and remember the better times to help push you through challenges. Read old customer reviews and testimonials to remind yourself of the great job you’ve been doing. Remember also to celebrate the wins and have a place where your staff and yourself can share this like a workplace bulletin board either in your shared lunch space or digitally online. By establishing this, your workforce (and you!) will be encouraged to broadcast wins as they happen and help to improve morale.   

Find balance

As a business owner, you're on the regular 9am - 5pm shift, but sometimes it can feel like you’re working 5am - 9pm, right? With such dedication to your business and a need for knowledge across all aspects, it can make it difficult to ‘turn off’ and unwind at the end of the day. Running a business can become something you live and breathe, but this should not be at the expense of your health. Introduce health practices into your day such as yoga, gym sessions, frequent walks, or perhaps join a sports club. These wellness activities will help to revitalise yourself and your approach to work giving you a renewed, growth mind and improved attitude.

Trust yourself

Trust your gut and your values, it will help you make better decisions for the long term and to live up to your full potential. Remember why it was that you set out in business for yourself in the first place! When there's doubt, you may struggle to make important decisions, so being sure about your company mission and values can help combat it.