Why being a leader in your business is important – Newsletter, September 2019

 

Why being a leader in your business is important

A business may have the right strategies and qualified professionals. But that is not enough to succeed.

There is a big difference between having the strategy on paper and actually implementing it. Without a leader, all these values would only be on paper. They would never see the light of day because employees are almost always looking out for their own interests.

An effective leader reminds the staff of the company values and enforces them.

It can be catastrophic if any team members do not do their part. Sometimes the person in question may be going through a trying time. A leader is charged with energizing everyone so that operations can run smoothly.

The team needs to know that their leader is aware of their grievances. Meanwhile, a leader is able to transfer his/her positive attitude and energy to the team as well.

Having effective leaders within the business means you have people that are setting examples for others in the business in areas such as:

• Character – A good leader “walks the talk” and in doing so earns the right to have responsibility for others.
• Directive – By seeing what can be and managing the goals on how to get there, a good leader can create impressive change.
• Communication – Leaders respond to questions, address concerns, and above all, listen with empathy.
• Honesty – Strong leaders treat people how they want to be treated. They are extremely ethical and believe that honesty, effort, and reliability form the foundation of success.
• Optimistic – The very best leaders are source of positive energy. They are intrinsically helpful and genuinely concerned for other people’s welfare. They always seem to have a solution and always know what to say to inspire and reassure.

 

Being a good business leader isn’t just about being in charge. It also means you share leadership. Develop the skill of picking out other good leaders and helping them cultivate their own skills.

I publish additional information over on my Facebook page and also on my LinkedIn – so make sure you are “following” me on Facebook and connected with me on LinkedIn. Instructions on how to do this are in last month’s newsletter, here.

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What is the difference between

a leader and manager

Leaders are proud disruptors. Innovation is their mantra. They embrace change and know that even if things are working, there could be a better way forward. And they understand and accept the fact that changes to the system often create waves. Managers stick with what works, refining systems, structures and processes to make them better.

Leaders are willing to try new things even if they may fail miserably. They know that failure is often a step on the path to success. Managers work to minimize risk. They seek to avoid or control problems rather than embracing them.

Leaders know if they aren’t learning something new every day, they aren’t standing still, they’re falling behind. They remain  curious and seek to remain relevant in an ever-changing world of work. They seek out people and information that will expand their thinking. Managers often double down on what made them successful, perfecting existing skills and adopting proven behaviors.

Managers don’t want to get out of their comfort zone, leaders take risks. Leaders are not afraid of trying out new things even though they fail sometimes. Leaders don’t forget that failing is not the end but actually the beginning for a new path to success.

Leaders know that people who work for them have the answers or are able to find them. They see their people as competent and are optimistic about their potential. They resist the temptation to tell their people what to do and how to do it. Managers assign tasks and provide guidance on how to accomplish them.

Leaders have people who go beyond following them; their followers become their raving fans and fervent promoters – helping them build their brand and achieve their goals. Their fans help them increase their visibility and credibility. Managers have staff who follow directions and seek to please the boss.

Managers assign tasks but leaders encourage ideas. Leaders want the involvement of the whole team to the process and like to brainstorm new ideas or encourages people to always raise their opinions, if they get a better way of doing things.

Are you a manager or a leader?

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Tips on how to grow your leadership skills

 

 

Are you interested in growing as a leader, or just in getting ahead? In my job as a business coach, I see lots of people who want to advance. But my work is much easier–and the odds of moving ahead are much better–when the person I’m coaching wants to be coached and is focused on their own growth instead of an outcome they can’t fully control.  

Here are five opportunities to grow as a leader, the more closely you follow them, the better your chances of success:

• Learn from your failures.

Growing as a leader means developing the ability and willingness to have your failures shape you. Failure is instructive–it allows you as a leader to learn. We all fall down, but failure means we refuse to get back up and deal with our issues.

• Appreciate feedback.

No one likes hearing that they’ve done something wrong, but try to view all feedback as a gift, an opportunity to develop. The best leaders realize feedback helps them improve so they can do better. We all need people in our lives who can give us feedback; seek it with sincerity and receive it with grace.

• Be An Inspiration

Being a good leader depends on how you get things done. An effective leader should be able to motivate others and drive them to do their best in the worst situations. Great leaders move us and inspire us to do our best work. The best way to become a great leader is train yourself to become better and better every day; not only help others learn and grow, but also make sure you learn and grow as the organization grows.

• Always See The Bigger Picture

Remember that if you’re a good leader, you must have the ability to overcome unpredictable challenges. You must have a contingency plan ready ahead of any situation or circumstances. A trait of a good leader is the ability to see the bigger picture and foresee problems before they occur. The ability to foresee and provide suggestions for avoiding potential problems is invaluable for a leader.

• Be Passionate

A leader should always be passionate about his/her work. A leader should always have positive energy that drives and inspires their employees to bring out the best in them.You should love your job and your team otherwise; it will be a mundane task to be at work every day. Passion and enthusiasm will inspire his/her team members to work towards their goals. A leader without passion will not be able to push their team members to perform better. There will be no positivity and energy in the team. A passionate team leader will have a team of energetic members with positivity and unity among them.

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