The road to becoming a great leader can be bumpy at times. There are several potholes in this endeavor which can derail the best of intentions. It’s very easy to become a bad leader or boss. However, the journey is much harder to be a great leader boss.
There’s no work or initiative needed in becoming a bad leader. On the other hand, becoming a great leader or boss takes determination and effort. Where a great leader truly shines is when times are tough. The issue or issues could be sagging sales, more competition, or high inflation. It is during these challenging times when the great leader provides direction, inspiration, and encouragement for the organization’s staff.
Certain character traits are associated with great leaders. Meanwhile, bad leaders exhibit the opposite. Therefore, every business owner or manager should review the following set of questions below to determine where the owner/manager stands in regards to answering “yes” or “no”:
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Do you acknowledge what your employees do for the business?
The easy answer should be “absolutely!” However, it’s not a good sign if the small business owner/manager accepts all the glory when positive results or progress occurs. The bad leader accepts the praise when good things happen, but points the finger of blame at employees when there’s a negative outcome. The great leader deflects all credit to the staff or employees and accepts all blames when things go wrong.
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Do you believe in your employees?
Believing in your employees is a two-way street. Employees need to trust their leaders, but those same leaders equally need to trust their employees. Employees must know that their leaders/bosses support and trust them to do their jobs. Once an employee has completed his or her training, a great leader gives that employee certain amounts of authority.
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Have you thought about how much work your employees are currently accomplishing?
It’s usually a given that a small business owner/manager might be working more hours than every other employee in the organization. However, every owner/manager must be aware of what each employee is accomplishing every day. Without diligent and dedicated employees, the leader’s job would be even more difficult.
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Does a salary equal job performance and position?
Every small business owner/manager would like their staff to love their jobs. At the same time, all employees want to paid well. The great leader makes certain that an employee is paid a salary in line with that person’s job performance and position. If employees are not paid fairly, they’ll become unhappy employees who start looking for new jobs.
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Do you look for the good in your employees?
The great leader/boss focuses on the employees’ strengths rather than their weaknesses. No two employees exhibit the same strengths or weaknesses. The great leader acknowledges and inspires their employees to utilize their strengths to the best of their abilities. Employees can tweak their weaknesses, but focusing on those weaknesses will not enhance performance.
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Do you deliberately think about who is employed and promoted?
Whenever there’s an opening at a small business, the owner/manager feels a sense of urgency in filling that position ASAP. Therefore, the hiring and/or promotion process becomes a hurried activity. Not too many positive outcomes occur whenever the hiring process is “rushed.” Great leaders are deliberate in hiring the right person for the right job (i.e., conducting formal interviews, asking inquisitive questions, checking references) or elevating the right employee (i.e., previous job performance, skills, training, attitude) into a higher position with more duties.
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Do you excessively manage your employees?
By excessively manage your employees, are you basically micromanaging them? On the other hand, do you allow your employees the independence to make their own choices? There are some employees who have no problem being micromanaged or because of a bad hiring decision need to be micromanaged. However, most employees would rather be given a certain amount of independence to do their jobs (as long as their fulfilling their duties) without their bosses “constantly looking over their shoulders.”
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Do you back your employees if there are ever any issues with customers or vendors?
Every employee wants to feel secure that their boss or supervisor will support them if there’s ever a problem with a customer or vendor. Of course, this would mean the employee was right. If you ever want to frustrate or disappoint an employee, have a boss or leader not back that employee. A great leader or boss may need to utilize some negotiation skills, but employees must feel secure knowing where they stand with their boss if an uncomfortable circumstance ever takes place with a customer.
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Do you give instruction, state understood directions, and highlight spelled out goals?
In general, employees are looking for direction from their bosses or supervisors. Employees want to do the right thing. So, for employees to know what’s expected from them, they look for instruction, directions and spelled out goals. Employees don’t want to be guessing on what they need to do. Great leaders make sure their employees receive instruction, directions, and goals. For those leaders who don’t provide these parameters, the employees are left guessing as to whether they’re doing the right thing or not. That’s not a good formula for success!
Do You Think You are a Great Leader?
The energy and determination needed to hire and train employees requires time, money, and effort. Regrettably, this can all “go sideways” if the employees are not inspired and happy with their jobs. The end result could be apathy or leaving the business altogether. Whatever happens, an unhappy employee creates an overall “black cloud” on every aspect of the business from operations to other employees.
No matter the size or shape of a business, the leadership must be great. Great leaders must inspire, participate, motivate, pilot, create relationships, and develop a culture where employees want to stay and provide continuity and success for the business.
So, after answering the above questions, are you on the road to becoming a great leader?
