Leadership Is the Lid On Your Business
“Leadership is always the problem and leadership is always the answer!” ~ Brian Houston
Many people seem to underestimate the importance of leadership skills to the success of their business.
A recent survey indicated that whereas most Australian businesspeople and managers had technical and some management training up to 70% had NEVER had any specific leadership training. Hence many businesses still fall into the trap of assuming that the best or longest serving ‘technician’ will make the best team leader.
Most small to medium size business owners say that among their biggest challenges are selecting, training and retaining quality staff? (A leadership issue!)
Other top challenges for business people include:
- Self management of time and priorities
- Dealing with the pressure to think clearly especially in regard to making tough decisions
- Resolving conflict with key stake holders
- Networking key relationships to grow influence and opportunities for sales and marketing
All leadership issues!
Leadership Is the Lid on your business! Every business!
The truth is that no matter how hard you work you will not significantly expand your influence and productivity, unless you are growing your leadership as well. You can work harder, but usually with frustratingly small results.
Leadership is all about you as leader – your vision, decision making, problem solving, courage to say ‘no’, character, people skills, perseverence, security, humility (openness to learn and grow) and integrity.
And, Leadership is all about your capacity to influence people – to connect, gather, envision, motivate, inspire, appreciate, lead, lift, train, grow, change and multiply people.
The McDonald brothers were successful Californian businessmen with a new concept for a fast food restaurant…but there was a serious lid on their business. They did very well with one restaurant. They tried but struggled with two. Ray Kroc came along and took their business concept to an amazing new level multiplied all over the world. His leadership did not have the same ‘Lid’ as theirs.
You as the leader are the Lid on your business or organisation!
What is your lid? Your people skills? Your insecurity? Your negativity when things get hard? Your anger with staff? Your fear of conflict? Your lack of clarity of vision? Your inconsistency?
Everything about Leadership can be learned and developed, whether you are a natural leader or not right now.
Some ways to grow your leadership and lift the Lid on your business:
- Read as much leadership material as you can and apply one thing you learn each week.
- Get yourself a leadership coach who can assist you to identify areas where you can grow
- Mix with leaders you admire and learn who they really are and what they do
- Realise you are not just a business person but also a leader. People around you are looking to you for leadership
I’m committed to seeing leaders grow and lift their level of leadership! I love to help release the potential of a leader or a team of people in a business environment.
Stay tuned…..
Next week: It takes a leader to raise up other leaders!
Great stuff John. Your articles are so practical and full of wisdom. Way to go…taking leaders to their summit!
Great article John. It all makes perfect sense, you just have to take the first step to do something about becoming that leader we all have inside!!
Great article John and really made me sit back and consider what my 'lid' was in my life & business. It also made me reflect on the 'lids' of those people I have experienced in management positions in the past. There is always something in particular that defines people in leadership to those around them. I can remember the best of them & the worst but the best have always been something to aspire to & pave the way for how I will lead in my own business today. Thanks for lifting the 'lid' on that one! I will be on the look out in future for the qualities you speak of.
Great John, your article has left me wanting to know more. What a great introduction to how being a manager does not make you a leader!
This is a fantastic resource John. It will really help me lead myself and others well. Thanks heaps
Jaemin
Helping people lift their lid, and therefore the lid of those they lead… what a rewarding role in life!