To be...a Leader

Dr. Cornwall lectured today about leadership and what it takes to be a good leader in your new and growing business. This goes along great with our dicussion about leadership and staffing. He presented 9 characteristics of a good leader.... 1. Relentless focus on vision:--> This is important because it can stop vision drift, the growth myth, and also a loss of the sense of culture within the company. (See this post from Dr. Cornwall for a write up on these myths) 2.Values->Policies and Practices->Actions:-->It is important for the leader of the business to be able to determine what his or her values are and keep grounded in them so that they create habitual business routines for each person in the business. 3.Provide Inspiration for Potential:-->The leader must be able to keep the troops going. Always have a bounce in your step and provide the fire under the rest of the employees. 4.Consistent and frequent communication about vision:-->No matter what you do, make sure you talk about the vision for the company. It is easy for the leader to see the end result, take the others with you! If you write letters, include the vision. Memos, include the vision. Newsletters, include the vision... 5Serve as "emotional Shock Absorber" for stress caused by growth: 6.Adapt to unexpected changes:-->This is what you were doing when you created the business, don't stop now! 7.Learn from failures: 8.Focus on results--objectives and milestones:-->This, to me, is like steering the car. You can't just hold the wheel steady and get to your final destination. You have to make small adjustments to get to the end. Bring your business with you on this drive! Tell employees what needs to get done and have milestones and objectives to communicate progress on the way. 9.Lead by example: These are great guidelines that Dr. Cornwall has laid out for us to asses what it takes to be a good leader. Leadership is important as your business grows and even before. No matter how many people are in your buisness, being a good leader will bring you through the "perpetual white watter", (as Peter Vail refers to it) that your company will go through. ~~be bold