Boss Mindset and How To Stop Thinking Like an Employee

While Megan takes a little time away for a maternity leave, we are filling the blog with incredible guest contributors who share our mission of helping female boutique owners & Shopify sellers grow successful & profitable businesses. This article has been written by guest contributor, Kristi Brocato, and you can learn more about her and how to connect with her at the end!

Hi, I’m Kristi Brocato, owner of The Retail Lab. I help business owners get out of the weeds of their companies and find freedom. I want to share a mindset shift that changed everything for me in my first company of 28 years: transitioning from thinking like an employee to operating like a business owner.

For 28 years, I ran a retail business. An AMAZING, THRIVING company!! But I was in the trenches, juggling tasks, managing the team, and convincing myself that I had to do everything because no one else could do it as well as I could. Sound familiar? If you’re feeling overwhelmed, slammed with responsibilities, and stuck in the weeds of your business, let me tell you—it doesn’t have to be this way.

The Truth About Mindset

Everything starts with your mindset. If you carry limiting beliefs—those voices in your head saying things like “I have to be there every day” or “No one can do it as well as I can”—you’re setting yourself up for burnout. Worse, you’re holding your business back from growing beyond you.

These limiting beliefs often come from our past: what we were taught as children or how we were conditioned to work. But here’s the hard truth: if you want to succeed as a business owner, you have to let go of those beliefs and embrace a new way of thinking.

Shifting to a Boss Mindset

A boss mindset is about more than just delegating tasks—it’s about transforming how you show up for your business, your team, and yourself. Let’s break it down:

1. Self-awareness and Emotional Intelligence

How you show up affects everyone around you. If you’re stressed, micromanaging, or visibly frustrated, your team feels it—impacting their performance. A boss mindset means being mindful of your energy, actions, and how they ripple through your business.

2. Self-Regulation

Things go wrong in business. Orders get canceled, team members call out sick, and customers can be difficult. The question is: How do you respond? It is crucial to learn to stay calm and focused in the face of setbacks. Reacting emotionally or trying to fix everything yourself only adds to the chaos.

3. Building Relationships with Boundaries

Your team is your greatest asset, but fostering relationships while maintaining boundaries is key. Your role isn’t to be everyone’s best friend—it’s to be a leader who listens, supports, and empowers your team without crossing professional boundaries.

4. Resilience in the Face of Setbacks

Resilience is about having a plan so you’re not always the one saving the day. It’s about empowering your team to step up when things go wrong, instead of always jumping in as the hero.

5. Empathy and Reframing

Empathy isn’t just about understanding others—it’s about shifting your own thinking. For example:

• Old thought: “It’s faster if I do it myself.”

• New thought: “If I hire and train the right team, I can focus on the bigger picture.”

6. Delegation and Letting Go

Write down every task you’re doing. Ask yourself: Is this my genius? Is this what I should be doing as the visionary of my business? If not, delegate it. Yes, it may feel faster to do it yourself in the moment, but in the long term, delegation is the only path to freedom.

The Results of a Boss Mindset

When you make the decision to stop doing everything yourself and step into the role of a true business owner, the results are transformative:

• Increased Profit: Your team will drive sales because they’re empowered, motivated, and supported.

• Happier Work Environment: Without micromanagement, your team will thrive.

• Personal Freedom: You’ll finally have the time to step away, enjoy your life, and focus on what you love about your business.

• Renewed Joy: Letting go of the tasks that drain you allows you to reconnect with your passion and vision.

Final Thoughts

The boss mindset isn’t just a concept—it’s a commitment. It’s a decision to say, “I can’t keep doing it this way. I have to fix what’s broken.”

If you’re ready to stop surviving and start thriving, remember this: you don’t have to do it all. You’re not just an employee of your business—you’re its leader, visionary, and architect. Step into that role, and you’ll find the freedom, joy, and success you crave.

You’ve got this. It starts with your mindset.

What’s one belief you’ll let go of today to start thinking like a boss?

Follow Kristi here: THE RETAIL LAB

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