What Successful Leaders Know
You need to be focused, passionate, and directional. Success doesn’t happen by accident.
You want to be successful. You want your business to be successful. But there’s a lot of competition out there, and everyone else wants to be successful too. So what can you do to stand out? How can you create a championship business?
Build on the Basics
Sometimes it’s easy to get sidetracked by the newest methods or gimmicks or to get lost in a sea of red tape and paper work. But the road to success is paved with some tried and true principles. Successful leaders build their businesses or platforms on a firm foundation of integrity and service. They are intentional about the culture and environment they create, and they never lose sight of the human component.
People are Important.
Customers, vendors, employees, and competitors are all people. They’re not revenue units or units of production or enemies. They’re not tools to be manipulated or exploited. They should all be treated with respect and courtesy. A good leader values people appropriately and understands business is not merely transactional but relational.
A Culture of Excellence is Important.
Excellence doesn’t just happen; it’s something that must be pursued and created intentionally. A good leader can inspire and build a culture of excellence within her organization by providing a clear vision and establishing clear goals and expectations. She consciously constructs an environment that supports and fosters unity of purpose. This means she takes pains to hire the right people, fire non-performers, recognize achievement, compensate success, and delegate responsibility. Everyone is involved in and accountable for the success of the company. In a work culture that pursues excellence there’s no room for gossip, unresolved disagreements, poor communication, or sanctioned incompetence. And everyone knows and respects this.
Principles are Important.
Financial, professional, and personal. A good leader establishes, communicates, and maintains the standards that govern and frame day-to-day business. He ensures a strong financial plan is in place for growth and investment. He believes in and encourages professional development, providing the tools and accountability structure necessary for employees to learn and apply new skills. And he has a plan for his own growth as well. Successful leaders continue to read, learn, and personally grow throughout their lives.
To win in business, leaders must embody the organization’s values and effectively communicate those values to employees and clients alike. Successful leaders demand the highest quality performance from themselves and their teams. They pursue personal and professional excellence and inspire others to do the same.
Your Turn
In what ways do you contribute to your work culture? Is it one of excellence?
* Photo Credit: Victor1558 (Creative Commons)
