People want to work for a leader who knows where he or she is going. You need to set the direction and rally the staff behind you. Employees don’t mind being challenged. In fact, they enjoy it, as long as the goal is meaningful and achievable. People also want to be part of a winning team, but they want to know that their individual contribution helps the team win.

But many owners of businesses take a very low-key role in setting direction for their firm and motivating people to follow. Most don’t realize the impact that their persona has on the company. They tend to do what they’ve always done, and often wonder why people don’t respond properly or are not serious about their work.

It is the owner or senior manager’s job to lead. Leadership involves setting direction, establishing priorities, harnessing resources, cultivating people, and empowering individuals to achieve team-oriented objectives. If the leader isn’t doing these things, the staff will be disgruntled, or at the very least, dispassionate about their work and the role they play in the firm.

If a leader is too strong, people will fear failure, and never achieve their full potential. If a leader is too weak, people will lack respect and either perform mediocre work or simply leave the firm out of shear frustration. Where there is no leadership, people flounder. It happens in all industries, and it is a bad, yet reversible syndrome.

The way to reverse things is to take your leadership seriously. It’s your attitude that gets in the way of leading well. When you finally understand how important your role is, it will rekindle the spark that left you long ago. Your enthusiasm, your drive, your passion, and your leadership set the tone for the company. Make it work for you and your team.

Lead well!

Tags: Business Tips, Determination, Developing Leaders, Drive, Knowledge, Leadership Excellence, Leadership Skills, Learning, Management, The Mind of a Leader