Being in charge of your business/organization comes with understanding of what kind of results you expect. Always remember that it is your responsibility as a leader to succeed in directing your business, and in turn, your employees are part of this responsibility. As a team, they need direction in following the protocol of work. The end results rely on how you drive the workers together, in which teamwork leads to the best outcomes. In comprehending this importance of teamwork, you must analyze the principles of leadership and enforce them in relation to the nature of your work. Every business is different, but the following five principles are sure to apply to you all.
- Communication: Instructions need to be given, but it is best for you to be present with your workers and other members of your business, including mail delivery, freelancers, etc. What action needs to be done all depends on the instructions you give and enforce, as one task leads to another, completing the planned project. Speak to your employees face-to-face or keep a daily note reminder for them to follow protocol. Establish your presence every day to ensure that everyone is playing their role in the business. Even in the middle of a project, communicate what needs to be done, to ensure that the project is on the correct path to success. If your employees have a specific problem, listen to them to assist in any possible way, as communication is a two-way rule in every team. Overall, the decision-making process is up to you, but always be keen to listen to your employee’s own ideas and see if they are applicable.
- Show, not Tell: The best way for most people to learn is through visual example, which should demonstrated by yourself as the person in charge of the company. After all, you are accountable for new employees learning on the job, and new projects that need to be coordinated with workers. Demonstrate a ‘what if’ situation for a client meeting or a marketing idea, any certain situation that might be difficult or confusing to understand in any way. It helps teach your employees what you expect from them, thereby enabling them to follow your model of conduct. By establishing yourself as a role model of a hard-working employee, you gain the trust and respect of your team as you prove you do care about them.
- Positive Empowerment: Don’t just be present in the workplace, but also positive. This principle means you should always show a calm attitude while around your employees, even if a problem is occurring. Remember, you behavior and attitude influences those around you and you don’t want your team to be feeling unhappy or not wanting to come to work. The job can be stressful, but without pain, there is no gain. How you handle this pain of stress is by being happy, always looking on the positive side; for example, just because your company lost a client or failed a project, you can still talk about the past success you’ve had, and learn from your setbacks.
- Be Innovative: Being the leader, you know how important it is to make your business shine in the field, by making it more unique than other similar companies. You want to stand out from others, showing the public that you are a creative thinker in whatever trade you are associated with. That is why you should think outside the box, find methods that relate to your business but haven’t been commonly done before. This can include a marketing strategy or a sales event, capturing the public attention by showcasing your innovation. Not only does this benefit your company’s reputation and profits, but it tells your employees that you are a creative person you might stand out from other leaders. This will certainly highlight your reputation as a positive boss.
- Adaptability: This principle is broad in the sense that it involves both yourself and your company’s status going through changes. The main point here is that you should always keep your leadership skills fresh and updated, even if you feel fully accomplished. Change is inevitable in every company, as you must learn to adapt to situations that you may like or not. That is why you should not only train your workers, but yourself as well, to learn how to handle any potential problems or lack of progress. Just because you are the head of the company doesn’t mean you should stop learning. Take a course on leadership, or have a meeting with other leaders who might be more experienced than you. As you learn to adapt, so does your business and workers.
Being a leader can be challenging, but putting into effect these principles will assist you in overcoming these challenges and your job’s stability. And when you follow these rules, you will certainly stand out in the profession as the boss.
Babak Eslami | Writer
