10 Tips for Top Leaders!
BE STRONG
Tough times require tough choices. Handle them with care and compassion. A business is not about the numbers, it's about the people and most people will ride anything out as long as care is taken with decisions that affect the lives of others. Don't be so far removed that you don't see and feel the effects of your decisions. It takes a strong heart and a clear head to move a business through the tough times and back into prosperity.
BE FIT
Your own physical fitness will influence how well you ride the stress of your leadership role. It is so easy to let your own wellness slide while you manage the roller coaster of business. Your physical health and wellbeing will allow you to captain the ship and weather the storms. We are far more optimistic when our body is healthy and our fitness is at its peak. This is not the time to skip your wellness program!
BE CLEAR
What is the vision for the business and how will this inspire your team. "Increasing share holder value" will not have your people springing out of bed, screaming to get to work. Make it meaningful and focused on making a difference - then live it, breath it, walk it, talk it! Be an advocate for bringing OPTIMISM back ... everyone wants to be part of something bigger than themselves but they NEED you to lead them there.
BE FINANCIAL
Cash is king! Without funding/finances, there is no future. Do what needs to be done to have the cash flow to keep the wolves from the door. It's hard to let the creative juices flow when you're stressed about cash flow. And keep it quiet - our team doesn't need to know that "We are cutting costs!" That just creates a panic stricken atmosphere. "Improving productivity" has a much more positive flow that stressing your team out. It's about profit generation, not revenue collection. Teach your team to be business savvy - and they will be!
BE POSITIVE
Be the gatekeeper for your own dialogue and what and how you communicate to the team. Edit your communication so that it creates a breeding ground for hope, inspiration and focus. Keep people in the loop, let them know of the small wins and celebrate the people within the business, regardless of how small their contribution may seem. Even the mail person can make a significant difference.
BE FOCUSED
Keep your eye on the goal at all times. As Winston Churchill said, "Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever give up!" Your team needs to see that you are bullet proof and have total belief in achieving the goal ahead. People follow what we do, not what we say. Who you are and how you act will have more effect on your teams attitude than all the words you could muster.
BE OPEN
Listen to your team. They are at the coalface and they know what is going on. The further away we move from the "customer" the less we know how to please them. When people are heard, they feel a part of the business and are more willing to do what it takes.
BE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY
As the LEADER your team, regardless of size need to see that you care about them and their contributions. People want to follow someone who has similar values and beliefs. It's not enough to just do the right thing; we need to be SEEN to be doing the right thing. BE visual - get out there amongst your team. Find out how they feel, what's important to them and what they need. Most people don't need a lot to give you 100% effort. It's not HR's role to know your people - it's your role!
BE BIG PICTURE whilst keeping an eye on the detail. Sometimes it's the focus on the larger vision that allows us to see the changes over time. We can see what didn't work in the past, change what needs to be changed in the present and power forward with new concepts for the future.
BE CAUTIOUS with change. People don't like changing especially your team. They are not inspired when you start changing what they know and feel comfortable with. Change needs a plan and thoughtfulness in its execution. The team needs to see the familiar whilst adapting to the new changes. Let them know what will be staying the same; let them know what they are doing well; and them let them know what you need them to do to help take the business to the next level, and why
BE BRAVE. Being the LEADER is not an easy ride but it can be a very rewarding one as you know. Courage only comes after we have faced the fear, so even if you need to Fake it till you make it, get in there, get them inspired and take this home for the team!
