Are You a Leader in Your Business?

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!

Do You Want to Become a Leader?

Someone asked me this week, “How did you know how to lead when you were placed in the position?” Simple. I prepared myself years ahead of time by paying attention to those who did it right, and those who did it wrong. This helped me develop a philosophy of leadership that stays with me to this day. You can do the very same thing. But you have to work at it. You have to be serious about it. You have to be around people who lead well and set the right example. Ultimately, you have to be YOU, but leadership is often caught more than taught by those who diligently observe, emulate, and dedicate themselves to leading well.

Here are a few Business & Life Tips to think about…..

Business Tips:

• Build your firm or personal brand with confidence. Have the courage of your convictions. Spend wisely, but look BIG in front of others.
• A mistake can be crippling because it creates the fear of failure. That keeps you from taking measured risks, and that kills your business.
• Work hard, play hard. Open your creative mind. Get out of your routine. Make the most of every moment. Believe in yourself.

Life Tips:

• If you see a need, fill it. If you see a wrong, right it. It’s easy to see challenges, but hard to act.
• Take time to hug your kids today, or your parents, or your siblings, or your friends. Take time while you have it. Life is precious.
• Think long-term, not short- term. Think attitude, not aptitude. Think investment. Your attitude is an investment in you.

Tags: Advice, Business Development, Business Tips, Determination, Developing Leaders, Drive, Knowledge, Leadership Skills, Learning, Life Tips, Management, Personal Development, Success, The Mind of a Leader