As a business owner and entrepreneur, you’re already a leader. Why not take your skills and make use of them in your community? Giving back and volunteering your time both have a variety of personal benefits, including reduced stress and increased happiness. And that’s not all — community leadership can have a substantial impact on your business too.
Are you wondering if you should devote some time and effort to becoming a community leader? Here are five reasons to get started ASAP.
Helping Others Helps Your Brand Grow
As Businessing Magazine notes, small businesses don’t just sell products to locals; they’re also powerful agents of change. Getting involved in your community helps your friends and neighbors. It can also help boost your business’s profile. In fact, around 87 percent of consumers consider social responsibility in their decisions about where to get their goods and services, according to Entrepreneur.
You Speak for Your Brand
As a community leader, you’re broadcasting loudly and clearly about exactly what your business cares about and what your brand is all about. It’s one thing to tell people you care. But it’s much more impactful to walk the walk and get out in the trenches to help make a difference. It also shows your commitment to your community, which your customers can see firsthand.
It’s a Fresh Opportunity to Network
You wouldn’t necessarily think of volunteering and working in the community as prime for networking. But you might be surprised by the number of people you’ll meet and the potential for gaining new contacts. For many business leaders, getting involved in their communities provides opportunities to expand their networks exponentially. It’s often easier to get meetings and introductions. Also, you may be able to tap into the large networks of other community leaders you’ll come into contact with.
You’ll Gain Valuable Intel
Networking is great, but do you know what’s even better? As a leader, you’ll be more entrenched in your community. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of what your local customers care about, hope for and need. That’s insight you can use to broaden your customer base, better aim your marketing campaigns to your target audience and increase your business appeal.
Increasing Employee Engagement
Community leadership casts a positive light on your company’s external image. It can also give you a boost from within. When you encourage community involvement as part of the culture of your business, you’ll find that your employees are more engaged with each other. You might also find that your employees are more creative and willing to collaborate. This can build positive morale that helps your business run more smoothly.