In my experience of working with over 110 businesses around the world over many years, I have been amazed at how often we are called in because the business owner has problems with staff or customers or suppliers or the market. Invariably our first meeting with an owner is dominated by the owner telling us all the problems he is facing and how everyone is against him. This ‘victim mentality’ typically expresses itself through blame, denial and excuses. After hearing what the owner has to say, we will usually confront him with a simple, bold statement: ‘Your problems have little to do with anyone else; they are ultimately a reflection of your own behaviour.’

The essence of this statement is an important insight – a business is a reflection of its owner. As the owner gets better, so does the business. So before you set to work on other aspects of your business, let’s start by working on you-the owner

Listed below are ten things you can do to become a better leader. Pick one. Do it today. Pick another one for tomorrow. In two weeks you will be a better leader.

1. Select the best people

As a leader, you are only as good as the people on your team. Give yourself a better chance to succeed by picking the best people from the start. They could even be better than you.

2. Be a motivator

Human beings do things because we want to. Sometimes we want to because the consequences of not wanting to do something are unpleasant. However, most of the time we want to do things because of what we get out of it.

It’s no different at work, people do good work for the pay, or the prestige, or the recognition. They do bad work because they want to take it easy and still get paid. They work really hard because they want to impress someone. To motivate your people better, figure out what they want and how you can give that to them for doing what you want them to do.

3. Build Your Team

It is not enough that people are motivated to succeed at work. They have to work together as a team to accomplish the group’s objective. After all, if we just want them to all “do their own thing” we don’t need you as a leader to mould them into a team, do we?

4. Be a Leader, Not Only a Manager

You have built the best team from the best employee available. You motivated them to peak performance. What is missing? Motivating a team is worthless unless you provide direction; unless you turn that motivation toward a goal and lead the team to it. It is the ability to lead others that truly sets a manager apart from their peers. Remember that leaders are found at all levels of the organisation, so be one.

5. Improve as a Communicator

Communication may be the single most important skill of a leader. After all, all the others depend on it. You can’t be a leader if you can’t communicate your vision. You can’t motivate people if they can’t understand what you want. Communication skills can be improved through practice.

6. Get Better At Managing Money

To stay in business, a company has to make money. That means bringing money in the door and it means spending less than you bring in. Depending on your function in the organisation, you may have more influence on one area or the other, but you need to understand both. You can help your company, your employees, and yourself be getting better at managing the company’s money. Remember don’t be put off by the numbers, or by the fact that “it’s math’s”.

7. Get Better at Managing Time

The one thing you will probably have less of at work than money is time. The better you get at managing time, yours and others, the more effective you will be as a leader.

8. Improve Yourself

Don’t focus so hard on your people that you forget about yourself. Identify the areas in which you are weak and improve them. The fact that you are reading this article shows you understand the concept, you need to put this into practice.

9. Practice Ethical Management

Enron-like scandals have really driven home the point about how important ethics is in business.

10. Take a Break

You are less effective as a leader if you are over-stressed. You are less tolerant. You snap at people more. No one wants to be anywhere near you. Take a break. Give yourself a chance to relax and recharge your batteries. Your increased productivity when you return will more than make up for the time you take off. Have a good laugh or go lie on a beach somewhere.

Author Bio: Tony Gattari is a business keynote speaker and guest speaker. His passionate enthusiastic style makes him ideal as your next guest speaker, sales speaker, marketing speaker or keynote speaker. Achievers group provides marketing and sales training, consulting, marketing workshops and keynote speaking services. See http://www.achieversgroup.com.au for more.

Category: Leadership
Keywords: business, business advice, business consulting, business management