Anyone can buy a business, but can they run one? Leaders have a lot on their shoulders, responsibilities include improving sales, devising logistics management solutions, monitoring costs and motivating employees.
If you are planning to take the helm yourself you need to have the ability to lead. Your leadership style will be based on your personality and what you are hoping to achieve at a given time, but there are certain characteristics all business leaders should possess. Here we outline the main character traits of a business leader, before you leap into leadership check which ones you have and which you need to work on:
Are You Decisive?
There’s no room to be dithering one way and that when you are a leader. We are not suggesting rushing into a decision for the sake of it – best to take a little time to make sure you are choosing wisely. But you must be resolute; once you have chosen a path, follow it with an air of purposefulness.
Are You Self-Aware?
Do you know where your strengths lie? What about your weaknesses? Perhaps you are great at coming up with ingenious management solutions, but find chairing a meeting terrifying. It can be difficult to look in a mirror and address your good and bad points, but it’s a worthwhile exercise if you want to be an effective leader. Pinpoint the areas that you need to work on and devise a strategy for self-improvement. If you are going to lead others you will need to set a great example yourself.
Are You Fair?
Treat each of your employees in the same way – there will inevitably be one or two you are not keen on and you will have your favourites, but don’t let that show. You need to remain objective and promote the fact that the same rules apply to everyone. You need to be firm, but there’s also room for compassion. It’s inevitable that employees will have personal issues that will impact on work from time to time; if an employee is underperforming, try and get to the root of the problem.
Are You Positive?
Can you motivate your team? Give them the inspiration to want to succeed? Positivity breeds positivity, cascade your optimism through the ranks and enthuse your employees to work hard and pull together.
Are you Principled?
You don’t get respect on a plate, you earn it. Be clear, be concise and don’t lose sight of your moral compass. Employees respect leaders who have values and are true to their beliefs. Be consistent in your approach as a leader and make sure your conduct stands you in good stead with all you come into contact with.
Are You Wise?
You need to use your noodle in business – running a company requires more than an authoritarian nature – you need to know your business inside out. This means building your knowledge and knowing your numbers. Do you know your latest sales figures? How are the books looking in terms of profit? If you don’t know you must make it your business to find out. As a leader, employees will look to you for decisions, ideas and resolutions. You will be expected to implement improvements, formulate strategies for gaining new customers and come up with creative solutions.
Are You Innovative?
The difference between a manager and a leader is clear. A manager concentrates on getting things done, with a focus on operations and getting results. A leader sets out to achieve but to also inspire at the same time. A leader spends time coming up with new concepts and stays abreast of advances. They always strive to move forward and employ their resourcefulness and imagination to keep things fresh.
Are you Tenacious?
Things won’t always go to plan, if you are the sort who has a meltdown when things go wrong, being a leader probably isn’t for you. Stay calm and be determined, even throughout those moments of greatest intensity and stress.
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
John C. Maxwell
Just as there are certain characteristics you should strive to possess, there are a few you should avoid like the plague. As a leader, you need to have authority but there’s a difference between being assertive and being dictatorial. This can lead to resentment as your employees struggle to deal with your high-handed approach. John C. Maxwell was spot on with his description of a leader. Make sure you know your stuff, always strive for better and more, and make sure your employees are with you for the journey.
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