How to be the best boss you’ve ever had

Being your own boss can be a major perk of running your own business. But when things get busy, looking after yourself might take a back seat. Ready to get more out of your business and reclaim that work-life balance? Here are seven ways to be the best boss you’ve ever had.

Be strategic

You might not miss having a manager, but you might miss the direction they helped to provide. When you run a business, all the decisions come down to you and that can be challenging. To provide a firm strategy for your business, write a business plan each year. Doing this can help you break down your business goals into manageable quarterly, monthly and even weekly activities to keep you on the right track.

Recognise and reward

You work hard in your business. By rights, you should be employee of the month every month. But when was the last time you acknowledged the fact that you’re doing a great job? Make time to reflect on what you’ve achieved and to give yourself a big metaphorical pat on the back.

Take a break

Running your own business can be hectic but no-one’s productive when they’re exhausted. If you have any employees, you’ll know that they are legally entitled to breaks, so make sure that you give yourself the same treatment. If you’re on the go 24/7, be a better boss and give yourself time to rest and recouperate when you need to. You’ll feel better, avoid burnout and you could even boost your productivity.

Invest in yourself

Managers ensure that their staff have the skills they need to succeed - and you should too. There are lots of free resources to help you level up your business smarts, like OpenLearn and LinkedIn Learning. You could also investigate local online networking clubs, which often provide peer-to-peer business training.

Be flexible

Employers who are flexible usually get the best out of their employees, whether that’s letting their team choose their working hours and workplace, or giving them time off for family commitments. One of the perks of running your own business is a better work-life balance, so be sure to make work fit around your life, not the other way around.

Provide the right tools for the job

Great managers know that having the right tools can save time, money and effort. So explore technology and tools that could make your business life easier. Project management tools like Trello or Asana can help you keep track of tasks, while accounting software like FreeAgent could save you hours every single month.

Why not take a 30-day free trial to find out how FreeAgent can help you stay on top of your admin and give you more time back to focus on your business?