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If you resonate with at least 3 of the below points, then you are likely what we call: an IT-Lost Business Founder.
As technology continues to transform the business landscape, many entrepreneurs find themselves struggling to keep up with the latest IT trends and comply with industry regulations. For those who lack the technical expertise to navigate this complex world, the pressure can feel overwhelming and suffocating, leaving them feeling anxious and in the dark about IT and the future of their business.
Here are some typical symptoms of what we call an IT-Lost business founder.
Most business founders are not tech gurus and that’s okay! You started a business in your own area of expertise, so it’s important you focus on that and the revenue generating activities. Although this does not unfortunately mean that IT should be ignored.
The burden of compliance weighs heavily on business founders who lack deeper tech knowledge. The regulatory landscape is constantly evolving, making it challenging to ensure that their business is meeting all the necessary requirements. This can create a sense of panic, as they fear being non-compliant and facing severe penalties.
Another issue that often plagues IT-lost business founders is a growing suspicion that something isn’t quite right. Without a solid understanding of IT systems and cybersecurity, they feel vulnerable and unprotected, worrying about potential security breaches and other IT issues that may be lurking beneath the surface. This sense of uncertainty can create feelings of anxiety and confusion.
Contrary to the second point mentioned earlier, it is important to highlight that some business founders may still lack sufficient information about their IT operations, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
It is not advised that a business founder delegates IT responsibilities without retaining a clear understanding, especially considering their personal accountability for their company’s compliance. Moreover, without benchmarks or reference points, it becomes challenging for the business founder to evaluate the effectiveness of their IT function. In such cases, it is advisable for the business founder to take proactive measures and entrust their IT management to a qualified and trustworthy individual or external service provider.
By delegating the IT function to someone with the necessary expertise, the business founder can gain confidence in the secure and efficient management of their IT operations. However, it must be stressed that business founders must maintain a level of oversight to ensure that the IT function consistently meets the required compliance standards for their business.
Cybersecurity is an especially fraught topic for business founders who lack deep technical knowledge.
As cybercrime and data breaches continue to escalate, the stakes are higher than ever before. They worry constantly about whether they have done enough to protect their business from the devastating impact of a data breach or fraud.
Without a strong technical background, it can be challenging to know whether your firewall security is up to scratch, or whether you’ve done enough to safeguard your business against potential attacks.
These fears can create an all-encompassing sense of unease that can be difficult to shake, particularly if there are no clear warning signs that something is wrong.
The anxiety around backups can be another source of stress for IT-lost business founders.
They fear losing all their valuable data due to technological failures or glitches, and the thought of not having a solid backup plan in place can be scary. Without a solid understanding of how backups work, it can be difficult to know whether your data is being properly protected. This can create a sense of unease and anxiety, particularly if you are relying on technology to store critical information.
The impact of these issues can be devastating for both business owners and their staff, who may become frustrated and disengaged due to ongoing IT issues that affect productivity and billable client work. This can also lead to business owners or managers squandering valuable time dealing with IT issues, rather than focusing on their core responsibilities.
Finally, business founders who are not tech-savvy may worry about how their business will cope with increased demand as it grows. With systems that are already struggling to cope with existing workloads, it can be challenging to know whether your business will be able to keep up with future demands.
In the worst-case scenario, this can create a sense of difficulty to imagine a positive future for the business.
To summarise, if you resonate with at least 3 of the above points, then you are likely what we call: an IT-Lost Business Founder.
The emotional toll of being a business owner without technical knowledge is often underestimated. It can create feelings of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty, leaving them feeling vulnerable. If you are a business owner struggling with any of these issues, then we can help you with free resources to ease some of the frustration and unease you may be feeling over your IT.
Take our quick fire, no email address needed, 2-minute quiz to receive some personalised resources on dependent on your situation to help you to relieve some of your IT frustrations.
Click here to take Are You An IT-Lost Business Leader quiz now!
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Group Technical Director, Salamander Energy plc
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CEO, The Vita Group
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