Start from scratch: Baby steps to becoming a respected entrepreneur

Respect does not necessarily come with success – it must be earned over time.

Whether you’ve just quit your full-time job to become an entrepreneur, or you’ve been an entrepreneur for decades, here are some tips to help you inch your way closer to being respected by others:

Listen

Even if you consider yourself to be an expert in your field, it’s important to remember that you don’t know it all. Whether you’re at a networking event with other professionals in your industry or negotiating the terms of a contract with a wholesale distributor, stop talking and listen. No matter how experienced you are, you can always learn something from other people. Actively listening to everyone you meet will ensure you come off as a more grounded, professional entrepreneur, which will help you eventually get the respect you deserve.

Get involved

As an entrepreneur, your schedule is probably packed from the sun up to the sun down. But, if you want to earn respect, you should try to find a bit of time to get involved in the community. Volunteer to help a local charity or sponsor one of their events.

Sign up for local associations that are relevant to your business, and help them organize their fundraising activities. If you show that you are serious about business but also passionate about making a difference, you will earn respect from everyone around you.

Under promise and over deliver

Every time you do business with a customer, make an effort to under promise and over deliver. If you don’t deliver what you promise, you and your business will lose credibility in the eyes of your customer. But, if you go above and beyond to exceed your customer’s expectations, you will have their respect as an entrepreneur and business for life.

Be open to change

Entrepreneurs must be open to change if they want to earn the respect of their employees and peers in the industry. Implement an open door policy so employees feel free to come in and voice their concerns or suggest a better way to get things done. If you want to grow as a company and be seen as a successful entrepreneur, you must be able to embrace change instead of avoiding it.

Represent your company at all times

Someone is always watching, so if you want to be respected, you have to represent your company at all times. This is especially important when it comes to your online reputation. What do your social media profiles say about you? You’re the face of your company, so it’s important that you represent your brand well. A potential customer who is researching your company could stumble upon your social media pages and think negatively about your brand as a result of what they see. If you want to earn respect, you have to be “on” at all times.

What steps are you taking to become a respected entrepreneur in your field? Has your hard work paid off? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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DISCLAIMER: This article expresses my own ideas and opinions. Any information I have shared are from sources that I believe to be reliable and accurate. I did not receive any financial compensation in writing this post, nor do I own any shares in any company I’ve mentioned. I encourage any reader to do their own diligent research first before making any investment decisions.