A leaderless organization can hardly be seen as much. Save a few examples, businesses are driven by the individuals that define and speak for them. While their methods and intentions may vary, leaders inspire those below them and, in effect, push the company toward wider success and fulfillment.
In assessing the qualities and qualifications of leaders, it’s important not to limit analysis to merely the business landscape. Leadership is an integral part of art, politics, sports, science and even friendship, and the traits that unite these leaders are no different than the ones that define those in the business world.
First, it’s important to understand what a leader should aspire to do. It’s not about directly coercing people into doing something – that’s tyranny. It’s about inspiring them to do something themselves and, more importantly, to have faith in what they’re doing. Leaders help others realize their natural confidence and bring out the determination that may otherwise be dormant. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.”
This may be a more difficult task for entrepreneurs, who often have little experience and even less of an established presence to draw initial confidence from their staff. For these individuals, it’s important to realize that leadership cannot really be learned, but it can be alluded to. In other words, leaders have to learn from their experiences. Here are some tips for becoming a stronger and more effective business leader.
Build a team
You cannot force your team to follow you, but you can pick and choose those who may already know and trust your style. That will ease the transition process and allow you to guide your staff more effectively and reliably.
Don’t assume people see what you see
As an entrepreneur or leader, you have the direction for your organization. Sometimes, it may be so clear and simple to you, but that doesn’t mean it is for everyone else.
“Entrepreneurs have the vision, the energy, and they’re out there trying to make it happen. But, so often with their staff, they are assuming too much,” Beverly Flaxington, founder of The consulting firm The Collaborative, told Entrepreneur magazine. “It’s almost like they think their enthusiasm by extension will be infectious – but it’s not. You have to bring people into your world and communicate really proactively.”
Be real
Yes, that’s a trite saying, but it certainly applies. Leaders build trust by reflecting authenticity and integrity. While the strategies for building trust are manifold, practicing what you preach is perhaps the most fundamental imperative. Flaxington points out that if you be yourself and not try to act like someone you’re not, and if you surround yourself with people who match your own values, your business is much more likely to succeed.
Believe in your people as they believe in you
The reason why you have people below you is because you can’t handle everything yourself. You put a team together that will follow you, so it makes sense that you’ll need to trust in the decisions and moves that they will inevitable have to make.
Remain calm and don’t get discouraged
This is perhaps most relevant in the current economy. Consumer confidence is weak, debt is rampant and unemployment is seemingly universal. In such conditions, it can seem insane to assume you can build something – let alone lead people. In a business environment, your people will likely grow even more discouraged. But you can’t become enslaved to the market – you have to build it yourself.
“The media has been hanging black crepe paper since 2008,” author and leadership trainer Harvey Mackay told Entrepreneur. “But look at all the phenomenal companies and brands that were born in downturns, names like iPod, GE and Federal Express.”
Communicate … a lot
No matter what the size of your team, you have to make sure everyone is on board with your ideas. It’s not enough to tell people how to do something – they have to understand why. Similarly, they must communicate to you about what’s needed to carry out your requests. Send company-wide emails, go out and talk to workers – even when there is not direct need – and encourage collaboration among staff members.
These tips will not create a leader from scratch. Hard work and, more importantly, experience is needed to build leadership skills. Even so, by looking up to those whom you admire may illuminate some of the ways you want people to feel toward you.