This Insights article was contributed by Heather McWhorter, Regional Director of the Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
 
Depending on the size of your small to mid-sized business, you may be the CEO, CFO, COO, CHRO, CTO and more.
 
Managing a small to mid-sized business is difficult… but you don’t have to do it alone. Tap into passionate, experienced professionals and colleagues that can help you address critical management issues, while enabling your business to grow and thrive.
 
If you aren’t comfortable with asking for help, this can be one of the most difficult tasks that you need to do to improve your business. However, asking for advice is critical for the long-term success of your business.
 
Getting started is simple. Your action plan:

1. Set aside time on your calendar and establish a timeframe
    When will the mentor/committee/board be established?
 
2. Determine the initial strategic goal to discuss   
    Think about a long-term strategic goal or a shorter-term goal you are struggling with. Some ideas to start: understanding existing customers; forming a better management structure; obtaining capital to grow; increasing profitability; addressing personnel issues; identifying new markets; or developing a new product line. Try to just pick one specific goal to focus on initially.

3. Connect with the mentor/committee/board  
    Who you should reach out to will depend on the primary goal selected in Step 2. Can the goal be conquered internally? Solved through a peer-based mentor relationship? Through professionals? Is confidentiality needed or is a broad innovation group a better solution?

       Some ideas:

• Form an employee focus group
• Establish a relationship with a mentor from a similar, non-competing company
• Develop an Advisory Board
• Work with a university or economic development partner such as the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)