The importance of leadership skills cannot be underestimated when it comes to the growth and prosperity of your business. In order for a small business to be successful, an owner must take a hands on approach to earn the respect of their employees. Some people believe that leaders are born, not taught. While this is true to a certain extent, there are steps you can take to become a better leader.
Know your Team
Getting to know what makes your employees tick is key in your ability to motivate and engage your employees. Know their goals and life aspirations will help you to develop their job skills and place them in the best position to use those skills. Having your employees look at you like a regular person will help you to gain their respect. This does not necessarily mean becoming their friend. You will still want to make sure your authority is known. Being able to relate to your employees on a personal level will encourage them to work hard for you and the company.
Share Company Objectives and Goals
Communicating clear company objectives and goals will help your employees understand their purpose and what your company is working towards. Sharing these objectives and involving your employees in their development will make them feel like they are a part of something. This not only gets them to work hard, it improves employee retention as they will feel like they are a factor in the success of your business. As the owner of a company, you need to show that you have the vision and direction to make your company successful.
Remain Humble
Nobody wants to work for a boss who is full of themselves and makes their employees feel inferior. Remember where you came from. Most small business owners did not start out with stacked bank accounts. Keep in mind what it took you to get to your current level of success and respect the fact that you have employees that are still in those early stages. Encouraging employees by sharing stories of your own hardships will show them that you care and that you look at them like an equal.
Learn New Things
Staying on the cutting edge of industry knowledge is extremely important in gaining and maintaining the respect of your employees. Be sure to keep up to date with industry trends. Even if you’re an “old dog”, you must have the ability to learn “new tricks”. With the landscapes of small business and marketing changing more rapidly than ever, showing that you are on top of these trends will invoke confidence from your employees.
Be a Leader, Not a Boss
When you think of a boss, you might think of someone that is in charge. Most of the time the connotation is negative, someone that is always on the outside looking in, simply giving orders. There is typically a sense of disconnect between a “Boss” and their “Employees”. A lot of times the Boss never had to go through the daily tasks their employees do. On the other hand, a leader is almost always someone that is immersive. A person that gets involved and can see what might work best from not only the perspective of a leader, but also from an employee standpoint. Leaders tend to be more inspiring and motivational, they want their team to achieve great things. A leader connects with their team and listens to their suggestions. In response to feeling heard and respected, the leader’s team will be happier and ultimately more efficient. So when looking at the comparison, which would you rather be, a boss or a leader?
Being Prepared for Anything
As the leader of your company, being prepared for any situation is a large part in gaining the respect and loyalty of your employees. Quikstone Capital Solutions offers merchant cash advances that will ensure you are able to lead your workforce towards a bright future.
