Self-advocacy is a key skill entrepreneurs must learn if their business is going to thrive, according to the founder of a management consultancy firm.

Business owners must also demonstrate core leadership competencies such as empathy, adaptability and digital literacy to drive their company forward.

That was according to Amrita Bhalla who was talking at Re-Ignite, a biannual conference for alumni of the small business accelerator programme, Ignite, on Friday.

Ms Bhalla, managing director and founder of AB Consulting, talked on the theme of “Leading the Way: Scaling Your Business Through Self-Advocacy”.

She told the conference, at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club: “As entrepreneurs, we’re our biggest critics but we should also be our biggest celebrators.

“Sometimes we forget this and we don’t necessarily reward or congratulate ourselves on that.

“Self-advocacy in the context of what I’m talking about is really around any time that people will speak up or act in a way that improves their quality of life, affects personal change, or in some cases corrects inequalities.”

She said that entrepreneurs trying to advocate for themselves had to know their strengths.

“Are you someone who’s more comfortable talking or would you prefer that it’s done in an e-mail? How and what are your limits in and around promoting yourself and your business?

“Does it [the self-advocacy] sound authentic? Is my point coming across? A lot of people get really wrapped up in self-advocacy conversations with a lot of words. Less is more. Be direct, be specific.”

Ms Bhalla said self-advocacy was a “learnt skill” and urged people to practise and to think about “how you’re pitching yourself and your business”.

“Self-advocacy is such a vital skill for entrepreneurs,” she added, because it leads to increased visibility, stronger relationships, improved decision making and increased confidence.

The conference participants were also shown a slide on key leadership skills: digital literacy; adaptability; innovation; empathy and strategic thinking.

Although not on the slide, Ms Bhalla agreed with audience members that time management and emotional intelligence were also important aspects of good leadership.

Leadership was “really important”, she said.

“Entrepreneurs say to me, why do I need to worry about that? You do need to worry about that because it’s your brand,” she added.

“The culture you’re building in an organisation really speaks to who you are and your values.”