56% of Small Biz Owners Think Remote Working Has Made Them Better Leaders Says Poll
By Good News Network
More than half of small business owners (56%) agree that working from home during the pandemic has made their experience of leading a team easier and more productive, according to a new poll.
A survey of 1,000 small business owners looked at how working remotely has impacted their company—uncovering several silver linings.
The results showed that three in five respondents said they are feeling more empathetic toward their employees and colleagues.
The vast majority—seven in 10—admitted the lock downs had given them certain business opportunities they wouldn’t have had before.
Conducted by OnePoll in partnership with software company Field
Effect, the survey also found that most small business owners have improved their relationship with their employees by trusting them more (63%) and having better communication (55%).
Working from home has also allowed more businesses to see an increase in customers (46% vs. 25% who have lost customers) and sales.
But, working remotely has its challenges. Nearly half of those polled agree that running their businesses primarily from home has proven to be more challenging than they anticipated.
41% admitted they don’t have the same capacity to oversee all aspects of their business from home.
Business owners are busier than ever, too, with 47% saying they wear ore hats than before the pandemic by taking on roles like marketing or bookkeeping.
“In the face of uncertainty and rapidly changing business conditions, small business owners continue to prove their resiliency and adaptability,” said Andrew Milne, chief revenue officer at Field Effect.
“The fact that they have been able to overcome the inherent challenges in building a business from home, while still seeking out new business opportunities and customers is remarkable.”
73% of The Women Who Started Businesses During The Pandemic Say It’s Easier Than Ever To Be Successful
As a business owner, being your own boss certainly has its perks, but 33% of female small business owners were motivated to start their own businesses to inspire other women.
That’s according to a new random double-opt-in survey of 1,013 female small business owners, including 505 who identified themselves as white and 508 as people of color.
One in three (36%) respondents said they currently have a female mentor or role model in the business world—particularly women of color, who were almost 1.5x more likely to have a mentor than their white counterparts (42% vs. 29%).
And three out of four mentored respondents (75%) credited that mentor with the success of their business.
Women of color also expressed a stronger interest in “inspiring other women” with their business (39% vs. 26%), and 82% said they want their successes to show others that it’s possible to overcome stigmas.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Office Depot, the survey also asked women about the challenges they faced when opening their businesses.
Overall, respondents cited lacking funds (47%) and trying to maintain a work-life balance (38%) as the toughest hurdles to overcome. Eighty-four percent said they’ve wanted to start their business as long as they could remember, with 80% launching their venture based on a hobby or activity they were already passionate about.
Sixty-one percent even worked a day job so they could save up enough money to open their business, including more women of color (71% vs 51%).
Of the 417 respondents who started their business in the past two years, 61% say the pandemic played a big factor in their decision.