May 12, 2009

Having strong leadership skills is essential to successfully executing your ideas, expanding your business, and being an effective business person.

But what exactly is a good leader?



Leadership is not the same thing as management. Things are managed; people are led. Being able to assign and assess work is important, but it's not the hallmark of a true leader. Leaders motivate and inspire their employees by tapping into the creativity and technical skills their team members have, and assigning them work that best suits their abilities. They know that intense micromanagement stifles their employees and does not give them the “green light” to work to their potential. After all, how creative can someone be with the boss constantly peering over his or her shoulder?

Build Your Leadership Skills


For many entrepreneurs, true leadership-the ability to delegate work and inspire excellence-isn't a natural skill. A pitfall of many small business owners is believing they must do everything themselves. A good leader knows when to reach out for help, expertise or counsel. 



Build Teams and Communities


It's almost impossible to flourish in an environment where the fear of failure prevents people from “thinking outside the box.” That's why it's important to create a positive environment by having a flexible and understanding attitude, and by creating teams that use each employee's skills to the greatest advantage. 

This means being conscientious of different backgrounds and attitudes, delegating work efficiently by knowing your weaknesses, remembering your teammates' strengths, staying enthusiastic, and providing positive reinforcement to the team. You may have the critical eye needed to spot a major flaw in the project, but you'll need the skills to deliver the news in a way that will be well received and promote forward motion.



Be Adaptable


Strong leaders look outside their own companies to find out what's working. Be ready and willing to bring new ideas to your organization, and know that successful businesses are rapidly changing and adapting to outside conditions and needs.

While it is important to be purposeful and decisive when making changes in your company, it is also important to be adaptable, especially when managing and leading your employees. 


Listen


The most important part of being a leader is the ability to really hear what people around you are saying. Some executives might be able to get away with a “my way or the highway” approach, but in most cases that kind of attitude tends to alienate rather than inspire. It may seem counterintuitive, but some of the best leaders are business owners who base their decisions on what others- customers, suppliers and employees-say, rather than an inherent sense of being right on every issue.

Your next great idea may come from an employee's comment in the break room. If you aren't listening, you might miss out on ideas that could improve your business.