Be The Change

9 must-read tipsfor entrepreneurswho are ready tostand up, step up,and lead.

Jane MarquardtManagement & Training Corp.

Jane Marquardt

Honesty

As the person responsiblefor the team, it is critical tonever falter in your ethicalexpression of core values,chief among which shouldbe honesty. The bestmanagers lead by example,so remaining transparentand direct in your leadershipstyle is the best way toencourage your staff touphold the same standards.

Delegation

A key function of the leaderto be a visionary. Knowingthe big picture, andunderstand how to getthere, is crucial. However,you also need to be able toidentify how your teammembers are best able tohelp and assigning tasksaccordingly. Know your staffwell enough to play to theirstrengths.

Communication

A crucial component ofteamwork is effectivecommunication. Yourknowledge can only help ifyou are able to successfullyshare it among the peopleworking with you. Clearlycommunicating yourinstructions and your team'sability to share their ownneeds are necessary forsuccess.

Confidence

Not every day is going to bea breeze, so when theweather gets stormy, a trueleader knows he or she mustnot waver in theirconvictions. Solve whateverproblems may arise whiledoing what you need to doto keep morale high. Thepriority should be to keepworking moving ahead toget through the rough patch.

Commitment

The greatest motivation foran employee to work hard isto see the boss workingeven harder. By outwardlydisplaying your commitmentto the cause, you set anexample for the rest of theteam to follow. Create areputation that earns therespect of your staff.Leading by example isalways an effective tactic.

PositivityRegardless of your industry,chances are that the bestoutput will come from thepeople who are working formore than just a paycheck.Happy team members donot mind staying late andwill even want to go aboveand beyond. Make theworkplace a positiveenvironment thatencourages such behavior.

Creativity

In sticky situations, the bestsolutions to a particularproblem may not beimmediately clear. Greatleaders know how to thinkoutside the box. Make aneffort to approach the issuefrom every possible angleand see it in a new light, sothat you can better find thebest way to resolve it quicklyand effectively.

Intuition

When leading a team in anyventure, there are likely tobe risks involved. Thegreater the risk, the morepressure there will be onyou, as a leader, to guideeveryone else through theuncertainty. Use acombination of your gut,past experiences, andmentors to make the rightdecisions at such moments.

Inspiration

As the leader, you will have avision of success clear asday in your mind for yourorganization. It is your duty toplant that vision in the mindsof each of your teammembers so that they toocan be as invested in makingit a reality. Inspiring everyoneto see the greatness that liesjust around the corner willhasten its arrival.