Nov-2017

18 19 employees carry out their work. Still keeping a close eye on the culture, your employees are growing. This is good, you need your employees to be strong, vibrant, independent, and creative to move on to the next stage. STAGE THREE –MATURITY This last step can be challenging for the owner. It is the stage where you take the training wheels off and let go. Defined by increased or full autonomy for your employees, this is the best form of confidence a leader can provide.When you are no longer the only person initiating growth, you have reached this mile- stone.Your employees are representing your business in their own way, not your way.Yes, employees have their way of doing things, but they are doing them in a manner that is consistent with the values you have set. If you have instilled a strong core value system, then those values will transcend from one genera- tion to the next.Your customers will recognize a part of you in each employee they interact with. It is at this point when you have gained your freedom as the business leader.After all, isn’t freedomwhat all entrepreneurs are looking to achieve? As I said earlier, just because my company can operate without me does not mean I no longer have an important role. I spend much of my time work- ing with my leadership team and teammembers to ensure the company’s future.As I learned long ago, EXECUTIVE VIEW people can run a lot faster on a path that is cut and free of obstructions. I am the person who helps cut the path so others can run fast to a brighter future. THREE STEPS TO RAISING A MATURE COMPANY 1. Recognize your business will grow up and that is ultimately what you want. 2. Come to terms with the fact you are not going to be in control of everything. 3. Celebrate the fact that your own growth and freedom can happen at the same time. Gary Mottershead, is an entrepreneur at heart, and founder/ owner of GCP Industrial Products Inc., one of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies on the Profit 500 list.With his background in manufacturing and chemical engineering, Gary believes it’s important for specialists to consider themselves entrepreneurs first.“I got into this world by being a technician,” he says,“but you can’t stay a technician for very long.You really have to be able to think about and direct where the business is going.” Gary has also been a coach for the Strategic Coach® program since 1996.During that time, he has conducted over 350 work- shops for more than 2500 entrepreneurs from North America, Asia, and Europe.With over 20 years of coaching experience and 30+ years in business, Gary is always looking to find newways for his customers and coaching clients to grow. Having been through the ups and downs of business himself, Gary has the confidence to know he can handle it, and wants to give that confidence to other entrepreneurs.“They’re so important in today’s world,” he says,“and they don’t always see that.That’s my role, to say to them,‘You knowwhat? Your clients need you!’” https://www.strategiccoach.com http://www.gcpindustrial.com