As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, finding a decent job within your expertise can be difficult. On top of that, rarely does anyone from the community get a well-paying and influential job and do anything to help others! It’s time for a change.
To become an LGBTQ+ business leader, you also need to seek ways to help the community, be inclusive and create enough revenue to succeed. Hanging a pride flag to show your support is great but is it enough? Here are a few tips that will help you become a better LGBTQ+ business leader.
1. Be inclusive
Since members of the LGBTQ+ community are discriminated against in every way possible, even when it comes to education and jobs, they are rarely given a chance to prove themselves and showcase their abilities. Be a true leader and give qualified members of the community a chance. Being inclusive will not only help the LGBTQ+ community but your business as well! How?
Inclusive businesses get more media attention and support from members and allies from all over the world. You can show that you truly care by attending rallies, meetings, forums, and conferences where community questions and issues are being raised.
2. Network, network, network
Attending events and conferences that support LGBTQ+ rights won’t only bring you media attention, but a fantastic opportunity to connect with others as well! If you want to become a true leader in your field, getting in touch with other entrepreneurs that support the same values and have similar goals is extremely beneficial. How else can networking help your business?
Are you stuck and can’t find a solution? Contact one of your networks to give you a hand. Maintaining professional relationships with other LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs can help you during difficult times, such as finding new hires, marketing issues, and many more. On top of that, you can help each other with promotions and publicity!
3. Build a brand
If you want to become an LGBTQ+ business leader, you need to choose your weapon; and is there anything better than a brand? The key to brand success is good marketing and confidence. So, to achieve that, you should work on your self-esteem and practise publicly presenting your brand.
The truth is, not everyone is going to agree with your ways. However, individuals that will go against you aren’t even your target audience, so there’s nothing to worry about! So, to become a successful LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, you need to think about the way you promote your business and brand. Choose a fancy design that will attract the right audience and a marketing strategy that will broaden it!
4. Communicate with your employees
Every true leader knows that communication with employees is essential in every field. This doesn’t only include assigning tasks and giving orders, quite the contrary! The LGBTQ+ business leaders are the ones who care. So, deeply engage in communication with your team.
Whether you operate remotely or from the office, having a platform where you can share your ideas and listen to each other is a fabulous thing. Be a listener and take your team’s creativity into consideration. This will result in more satisfied employees, as well as a happier workplace. So, if you want to implement a communication and engagement platform in your workplace, find out more here.
5. Find ways to give back
Only a small proportion of businesses practice LGBTQ+ leadership. However, most of them are well-known in the community due to their charitable actions. So, to be a true LGBTQ+ leader, you should find ways to give back to the community and support it as much as possible. How can you do that?
Even though donations are appreciated, monetary help isn’t the only one that can benefit your business and the community. You can participate as a volunteer during pride month as well as organise different events where you can promote your business and meet potential hires. On top of that, consider offering free courses to LGBTQ+ individuals to help them start and improve their careers!
Conclusion
Being an LGBTQ+ business leader is difficult if you’re surrounded by discouraging people. However, the community will always be there to back you up! This advice will help you run a profitable business and take it to another level by supporting LGBTQ+ members and helping them through their lives.
Follow Peter on Twitter (@MinkoffPeter)
The Queerness 