- Revisited- Business development centers (BDCs) should consider introducing counseling skills
Erica Kesse
Taking a second Look at Business development centers (BDCs) should consider introducing counseling skills
Business development centers (BDCs) should consider introducing counseling skills to entrepreneurs because entrepreneurs often face challenges that can be difficult to overcome on their own. These challenges can include:
- Starting and running a business can be stressful. Entrepreneurs often have to deal with a lot of pressure, both from themselves and from others. This can lead to stress, anxiety, and even depression.
- Entrepreneurs can feel isolated. They may feel like they are the only ones who are going through what they are going through. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
- Entrepreneurs can make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, but entrepreneurs are often more likely to make mistakes because they are taking risks. These mistakes can lead to financial losses, legal problems, and even personal problems.
Honey, You Need Counseling Skills: Heal Yourself, Ignite the Leader, Grow your Business by Erica Kess, LPC is a book that can help entrepreneurs deal with these challenges. The book provides entrepreneurs with counseling skills that can help them manage stress, build a support network, learn from mistakes, and more.
The 5 imperative counseling skills of vision casting, mission creation, communication skills, time management, and thrive planning are all essential for entrepreneurs. Vision casting is the ability to create a clear and compelling vision for the future. Mission creation is the process of defining the purpose of an organization. Communication skills are essential for entrepreneurs who need to be able to communicate effectively with employees, customers, and investors. Time management is essential for entrepreneurs who need to be able to manage their time effectively in order to get things done. Thrive planning is essential for entrepreneurs who need to be able to plan for the future and ensure that their business is successful.
Other counseling skills that would benefit entrepreneurs include:
- Problem-solving skills. Entrepreneurs need to be able to identify and solve problems in order to be successful.
- Decision-making skills. Entrepreneurs need to be able to make decisions quickly and effectively.
- Stress management. Entrepreneurs are often under a lot of stress, and they need to be able to manage that stress in order to be successful.
- Organizational skills. Entrepreneurs need to be able to organize their time and their work in order to be efficient and effective.
- Teamwork skills. Entrepreneurs often work with other people, and they need to be able to work effectively as part of a team.
- Motivation skills. Entrepreneurs need to be able to motivate themselves and others in order to be successful.
By developing these counseling skills, entrepreneurs can be more successful in their businesses.
Effective leadership demands a holistic approach to internal communication, recognizing its multidimensional framework. This system is defined by three distinct flows - Upward, Downward, and Lateral, each serving a specific, vital function that directly impacts productivity and profit. For the CEO, understanding and nurturing the Upward Flow is non-negotiable. Downward: The Direction Flow (Necessary, But Insufficient) Downward communication (from leadership to subordinates) is essential for delegation and distributing information. However, an organization dominated by this top-down approach quickly becomes rigid and unresponsive. True leadership understands that direction must be balanced by receptivity. Upward: The Innovation and Mental Health Flow The Upward Flow is the pulse check of the organization. It's the vital mechanism that allows employees to surface problems, share innovative ideas, and provide crucial feedback. When the CEO and their leadership team actively cultivate and respond to upward communication, two things happen: 1. Innovation: Valuable, ground-level insights are integrated into strategic planning. 2. Mental Health: Employees feel heard, increasing their sense of value and reducing stress, which directly supports their **mental health** and boosts morale. Lateral: The Agility Flow Finally, Lateral communication enables cross-functional collaboration, ensuring departments are aligned on goals. When all three flows are healthy and efficient, the organization operates like a sophisticated nervous system, maximizing its responsiveness and overall vitality. The success of the modern CEO and their leadership team depends on maintaining a strategic balance across all three flows. However, the health and resilience of the entire enterprise hinge on a continuous, valued, and non-negotiable stream of communication flowing up the hierarchy.
The organizational destiny of any modern enterprise is directly tied to the efficiency of its internal communication system. For the modern CEO, building a robust communication framework is not about mandate—it’s about survival in a dynamic market. Formal vs. Informal: The Strategic Balance A key part of the communication blueprint is understanding the interplay between formal and informal channels. Formal communication (reports, official emails) provides structure, clarity, and accountability. However, the social fabric of the organization, the trust and agility required for quick problem-solving is built through informal communication. The CEO must ensure leadership fosters a strategic balance, preventing an over-reliance on rigid, top-down structures that stifle valuable feedback. Lateral Communication and Innovation Organizational agility relies heavily on Lateral/Horizontal Communication—the flow of information between peers and across departments. When silos exist, innovation dies. Effective leadership must facilitate this cross-functional collaboration to ensure knowledge sharing and joint problem-solving. This efficient flow is crucial for driving productivity and ensuring the organization can respond quickly to market shifts. The CEO’s Human-Centric Mandate The path to a thriving workforce begins with an unwavering commitment to communication excellence, which requires specific skills from the CEO and the leadership team. This includes active listening, strategic channel selection, and maintaining radical transparency. This culture, which also supports employee mental health, positions the organization as a responsive, unified entity ready to meet market demands. The CEO acts as the architect of the communication ecosystem. By strategically balancing formality, facilitating lateral flow, and practicing transparent leadership, the organization gains the agility and resilience needed for sustainable growth.
Effective communication is not a soft skill your organization can treat as optional; it is the organizational nervous system that dictates its health, agility, and competitive viability. For every CEO, viewing communication strategically is the single most important leadership tool for driving profitability and corporate culture. A breakdown in communication is a silent profit killer. Data shows that poor information flow leads to measurable financial costs: high employee turnover, lost productivity, and damaged brand reputation. A CEO committed to communication excellence essentially adopts a powerful risk management strategy, ensuring that instructions, expectations, and goals are clearly understood, preventing costly confusion and frustration. Upward Communication: Empowering Leadership While delegation is necessary, true leadership thrives on the information that flows upward. Upward communication from a direct report to the executive team is vital. It allows employees to share innovative ideas, surface problems before they escalate, and, crucially, feel a valuable sense of being heard. A CEO who fosters this flow cultivates innovation and avoids being blindsided by internal issues. Fostering a Resilient Workforce There is a direct correlation between clear communication and employee well-being. When leadership ensures clarity and accountability, and when employees feel their input is valued, stress and confusion are reduced. This sense of psychological safety directly supports employee mental health and cultivates a resilient workforce. Ultimately, the tone for this thriving, communicative culture must be set by the CEO. Strategic communication is a prerequisite for organizational success. The commitment of the CEO to this framework is what turns an average company into an agile, profitable enterprise.