| By default, when you have decision-making | | | | what's termed a level 5 leader in Jim Collins' book, |
| responsibility and authority, you are the leader. | | | | "Good to Great", published by Harper Business. |
| NOW is the time to accept the role. Allow it to | | | | Jim's book is a great leadership reference even |
| challenge and motivate you. | | | | though the research is based on findings from |
| Are you the owner of a small business? A | | | | large corporations. |
| professional in private practice? Or an executive in | | | | Develop Leadership from Within: Great things |
| a small company? If you are any of these and | | | | come from trial and error. Of course, it's |
| you don't think of yourself as a "business leader," | | | | important to try on a small scale to limit damage |
| shame on you. | | | | from failure. Analyze it! Learn from it! Leadership |
| By default, when you have decision-making | | | | requires courage - the courage of one's |
| responsibility and authority, you are the leader. | | | | convictions. Jim Collins reiterates this in his |
| A recent Entrpreneur Magazine cover text reads | | | | strategy of getting the right people on board first, |
| "Who are America's future business leaders? You | | | | then allowing them to learn how to lead through |
| are. So what does it take to succeed? The best | | | | trial and error in their own area of expertise. |
| leaders combine bold new strategies with | | | | Being a great leader requires that you... Be able |
| time-tested values. Are you up to the task?" | | | | to communicate with a wide audience. Be |
| I couldn't have said it better myself. This is the | | | | willing to make unpopular decisions when |
| message I continue to communicate. NOW is the | | | | necessary. (Take a stand!) Have a plan to |
| time to accept the role. Allow it to challenge and | | | | make sure your message gets through. |
| motivate you. | | | | Create and implement quality systems and |
| The leader's old role of charismatic superstar has | | | | methods that will survive (after you're gone). |
| been redefined as a dedicated team leader with a | | | | Some of these may not be your natural behavior. |
| mission. Spectacular business failures such as | | | | Business leadership coaching is certainly a great |
| Enron, Tyco and others, have shown that short | | | | way to develop courage, communication skills and |
| term glory is short sighted and will eventually | | | | perspective. You can also add these to your |
| come back to haunt you. | | | | capabilities through affiliations and networking. It's |
| Strategies that effective leaders are using today | | | | more important than ever to have an active |
| are: | | | | network that can be tapped for its expertise, |
| Down-Time Response: Use down-time to | | | | new business potential and reinforcement of |
| reassess how you want to lead (and where you | | | | leadership skills. |
| want to go). Prepare yourself to start the next | | | | I believe (yes, I'm taking a stand) that by small |
| phase of your business on a stronger foundation. | | | | business leaders coming together to learn from |
| Grassroots Strength: A leader gathers the | | | | each other, each will gain in their own leadership |
| strength of the group. Great leaders are able to | | | | skills. As a result their business will be the direct |
| attract followers within their company, their | | | | beneficiary, becoming stronger and more valuable. |
| community and their industry. | | | | Check the current calendar at for events and |
| Make Tough Decisions: Real business leadership | | | | programs that bring together small business |
| means making tough decisions and getting them | | | | leaders. |
| carried out. Take a stand and back it up. This | | | | Final words for the leaders of today's...and |
| requires accurate information and input from | | | | tomorrow's...strong and profitable businesses: |
| trusted sources. | | | | recognize that you are the leader of your |
| Good of Company First: Builders of strong and | | | | business. As such you must make good business |
| profitable businesses make decisions based on | | | | decisions, take effective actions and get what |
| long term benefit to their company, not the short | | | | you need to follow through. |
| term benefits for themselves. This mindset is | | | | |