crayons & marketers

Let’s say you’re sitting in a room of familiar business owners. I walk in and give each of them a slip of paper and ask them to write one word on it that describes you best. What would they write?

This happened to me once in a mastermind group. Attempting to work through a mock business issue, we sat in groups of four or five and sought a solution. Easy enough. But then, we were asked to write one single word to describe each other. I got a little nervous. But when I collected my slips, the word they all chose to describe me was leader.

As business owners, you are the positional leader of your firm. With that comes the responsiblity of strategic vision, planning, and getting results. But, many times, business owners stop there and frankly, it’s not enough. A leader’s ability to inspire and empower others in a way that motivates them to change and accomplish a set goal is a powerful force that if harnessed, can change the way you do business.

To do that, keep these things in mind…

1. Earn it. The most dynamic leaders are those who embrace their responsiblity. They’re not relying on their titles to get the respect of those they lead. They are in the trenches, side by side with their workers, earning it. They have a genuine interest in what’s going on with those who do the work all day, every day and they make an effort to keep them informed. This leader is establishing trust and with each stride, is building a culture of cooperation.

2. Visualize it. If you don’t see it, neither will they. Visions are more than colorful ideas painted across the landscape of your mind. They are attainable dreams and when shared, can motivate those you lead to reach well beyond what they thought was possible. Visionary leaders send a message of hope, linking today’s reality to tomorrow’s possibilities.