11th November 2010
Possibly one of the hardest things to learn as a business owner, is how to become a good leader. Leadership is by no means something which comes naturally to a lot of people, but mastering this is essential to running a successful efficient and profitable business.
I meet all sorts of different people in my role as a business coach, and consequently they vary considerably in how they run their teams. Because many of these businesses started as very small enterprises with maybe 2 or 3 employees, they tend to be treated as part of a family or group of friends, rather than a boss/employee relationship. This in turn creates a culture where decisions tend to be made by democratic vote, rather than a clear vision from the business owner leading the way.
I remember being told that a leader should often be seen more as someone who stands above directing people through a maze, whilst the management are on the ground ensuring the team carries out the orders which help them to go in the direction which the leader has determined.
So leadership is not necessarily doing practical things, but ensuring that the team have the resources and tools to allow them to carry out their roles efficiently. However, nor is leadership expecting your team to do things, or act in certain ways, but not do so yourself. I have often come across businesses where the owner or owners are insisting on timeliness and cleanliness, or not talking about others behind their backs, but not adhering to these rules themselves.
For me, one of the key aspects of leadership is consistency. Giving praise when praise is due, but equally well ensuring that people know when they have fallen below expected standards, and explaining the consequences of such failings. Mutual respect is essential for creating good boss/employee relations, and this is generally best achieved by being fair, honest and consistent.
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