The role of an entrepreneur changes significantly as a business moves from a small start-up to a larger, growing organisation. This transition is essential for the long-term success of the business.

The Role of the Entrepreneur at the Start: The 'Doer'

In the beginning, the entrepreneur is the business. They are often completely hands-on and involved in every single aspect of the operation, from designing the product and buying materials to packing orders and marketing.

For example, when Stacey starts her online sweet shop, she does everything herself: she builds the website, buys the sweets, packs the orders, and posts on TikTok. At this stage, the entrepreneur is the ultimate 'doer'.

The Pressure to Change as the Business Grows

As a business grows successfully, it becomes impossible for one person to continue doing everything.

For example, if Stacey's sweet shop goes viral on TikTok, she will be overwhelmed with hundreds of orders. If she doesn't change her role and hire staff, the business will fail as she will be unable to fulfil orders and customer service will collapse. Growth creates a pressure for the entrepreneur's role to evolve.

The New Role: From 'Doing' to 'Leading'

To allow the business to grow, the entrepreneur must transition from being a hands-on 'doer' to being a strategic 'leader'. This involves three key changes:

• Delegation: The entrepreneur must hire staff and assign authority to them to carry out specific tasks, such as packing orders or managing social media. Delegation is crucial for freeing up the entrepreneur's time.
• Management: The entrepreneur's role shifts to managing people. This involves setting targets, monitoring performance, and motivating the growing team.
• Strategy: By stepping back from the day-to-day operations, the entrepreneur can focus on the long-term strategy and the bigger picture: Where is the business going next? Should it open a physical shop or launch a new product line?

The Challenge of 'Letting Go'

This transition can be very difficult for many entrepreneurs. Having started the business, they can find it very hard to trust others to perform tasks as well as they can. Being a great entrepreneur (a 'doer') is not the same as being an effective manager of people, and they may need to learn new skills. This challenge of 'letting go' of control is a critical hurdle that many entrepreneurs must overcome if they want their business to grow successfully.