Ask anyone what they believe a good leader is. More than likely, you will hear a broad range of responses along the lines of, “A leader is charismatic.” Or “A leader is authoritative.” I do not believe neither of these describes leadership. Diane Bloodworth, CEO and Founder of Competitive Analysis Sports, states that a good leader is someone who is authentic. One should be collaborative and take interest in their team’s success. When the team succeeds, the overall company succeeds.
Being a good leader is about helping your team reach their goals.
To serve as CEO of a company, or to be the leader of a department’s team, effective communication is key. Communicating with your team and helping them work out their ideas builds a foundation that leads to success. In addition to communication, I believe giving your team credit for their contributions is important. More often to not, bosses receive too much of the credit for the accomplishments of their team. Consider relentlessly thanking others for their efforts, and I guarantee there will be a change in the performance of your team. There is something about praise that shifts the attitude of a team player. And when bosses do this, everyone wins.
Look around you. Think of those who are in superior positions and have renowned companies because of their effective leadership. You will notice these things:
- They are entrepreneurs who have a purpose and vision.
- They are willing to take risks and not lead in fear.
- They challenge their team and push the team to make them better.
- They recognize that leadership is never about them, but the team.
- They recognize that failure is overcome with endurance.
If one sees and does these things as well as model the way, success will be the great reward. Diane also believes that to be a successful leader; one has to lead by example. Leading by example includes being genuine and credible, as well as working harder than the team. To view Diane’s bio, click here.
As a leader, what sets you apart from your competitor?
I believe how you lead says a lot about your company and a lot about you. Any competitor can boss or control their team, but what about the leader who chooses to view leadership from the perspective of making their team great? Think about it, good leaders will lead their team to victory and inspire them to be great. If you support your team professionally and personally, they will have the confidence to get the job done; hence making your job a whole lot easier. The point is this: how you choose to run your company as a leader will affect the success of your company. I believe Abraham Lincoln said it best– Whatever you are, be a good one.
At the end of the day, your greatest responsibility as an entrepreneur is leading your team and building a successful company. How you lead will determine your fate and that of your company. Simply put: leadership is practiced not so much in words, but in attitude and actions. Model the way.
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
John C. Maxwell