If you are a small business owner, you need to become a leader in your community, for a variety of reasons.  First, you want to ensure that your community is supporting a good environment for small businesses.  It is important to be involved in any community decisions that could affect your business, and almost everything does – road repair, downtown revitalization, restroom facilities, parking, lighting, safety, business regulations, tourism promotions, and many other factors.

Second, every time you join a committee or participate in a discussion, you are meeting with people who have the potential to become customers or refer customers to your business.  Your involvement becomes a natural source of PR for your business.  You will find numerous opportunities to introduce yourself and what you do; and sometimes there will be opportunities to make formal presentations about your business.  Every interaction provides you and your business visibility.  People like to do business with people they know.

Last of all, it is important to take an active role in organizations that you join, such as the Chamber of Commerce.  You may choose an area in which you know you can shine.  Your expertise and accomplishments will be noted and acknowledged, and raise your reputation in the community.  You might also choose a role that will challenge you or enable you to learn or practice a new skill.  In this way, you can develop important organizational, networking, managerial, decision-making, financial, or other specific skills that you can then apply to your business.  Being involved in your community is a win-win situation for you, your business, and the community.