Leadership for the Successful Entrepreneur!
Why talk about leadership?"
Leadership is important whether you a leader of a team or are a sole proprietor with no one working for you. Effective leadership is actually a way of thinking, a way to get things done.
Successful entrepreneurs of today MUST possess and exude effective leadership skills!
The best leaders are:
◦Personable, ◦entrepreneurial, ◦ethical, ◦positive, ◦good communicators, ◦work hard, ◦demand excellence, ◦excellent at creative problem solving!
Excellent Leaders:
◦know that the rewards will far outweigh any potential negatives on the road to getting things done!
◦take on the mantra, "If it's to be, it's up to me!" Leaders accept FULL 100% accountability and responsibility for everything in their lives!
Below lists some of the differences between the mindset of the mediocre or average entrepreneur and the successful entrepreneur with the LEADERSHIP MINDSET!
Manager mentality (Mindset of the average entrepreneur):
Cope with the complexity of the day
Engage in present tense activity
Do what they are told
Perform to expectations
Hard Working and Analytical
Leaders (Mindset of the successful entrepreneur):
Enact change
Focused on future-tense activities
Involved in what to do
Create Expectations
Visualize a purpose
Are Imaginative and creative
Passionate about what they do
Are risk takers
Now let's compare their attitudes toward goals.
Manager mentality (Mindset of the average entrepreneur):
Impersonal attitudes toward goals
Identify goals based on need
Tend to be reactive
Successful entrepreneur with leader mentality:
Personal attitude toward goals
Active envisioning/promoting their goals
Are proactive
Create the action
Alter the way people think about what is possible
Next differentiating area to look at is how they see themselves (self identity):
Manager mentality (Mindset of the average entrepreneur):
Peaceful life since birth
Social
Successful entrepreneur with leader mentality:
Struggle to find order
Not satisfied with the status quo
Don't take things for granted
Seek change
Focusing on personal mastery in their own lives
So, which of the above attributes can you relate better to? Actually the ones we called those qualities of a mediocre entrepreneur are those of a manager. Managers are good at maintaining the status quo and add stability to companies, but unfortunately don't make for successful entrepreneurs. Leaders and successful entrepreneurs are good at stirring people's emotions, raising their expectations, and taking them in new directions!
As an entrepreneur it is up to you to ensure that you exude effective management traits when necessary. And that you exude effective leadership skills ALWAYS... CONSISTENTLY!! Leaders are the ones who GET THINGS DONE!! As an entrepreneur who is focused on laying the foundation now for an awesome future in your company, it is VERY important that you lead the vision for what your business can achieve. This includes sales goals, customer service levels, marketing initiatives and every aspect of your business.
The best leader entrepreneurs think, "How do my products/services positively affect my clients?"
So what are some steps to becoming OR remaining an effective leader?
1- It all starts with YOUR VISION FOR THE COMPANY! Who would you like to serve? How many clients will you have? Where are your clients? What difference are you making? Etc. Remember, leaders are visionaries! Leaders always have their eyes on what they would like to see in the future! And they make sure that EVERYTHNG they do is in line with that vision. If it is not, they don't do it!
2- Be a GREAT communicator of the vision! (who you are, what you are all about?.) Leaders are excellent communicators and are therefore able to articulate it effectively to others. They know how to get others to listen, be interested and help.
3- Build LOYALTY!! Leaders let others see how hard they work, how sincere they are in their quest to help and serve others, etc. They ask their associates, employees, clients for feedback and then use it to improve. This will definitely build loyalty!
4- Become an expert!! Leaders are seen as experts in their industry!! An expert in helping your clients BEST!! An expert in seeking excellence in all that they do. They speak, write articles and so much more.
5- Proactively create solutions to problems! The words proactive and creative are key! Leaders don't wait for something to happen? good or bad. They look for and anticipate both good and bad, and try to creatively think of ways through both scenarios. They do not avoid or ignore them, but hit them straight on. Some examples: Let's say your business usually slows down in the summer. A leader will ahead of time think of ways to ensure business does NOT slow down and begin marketing efforts and the like to incentivise business in the summer. OR, let's say a client truly needs your product and wants to do business with you, but they are short all of the money needed. You could either lose the business all together or come up with financing options that will keep you whole while allowing the client to come on board.
6- A leader always gathers and shares nformation/resources to help their clients as well as themselves!
7- A leader willingly accepts full accountability 100% of the time!
8- An awesome leader inspects what they expect! They KNOW their business statistics! And do so proactively. When you are in business for yourself, no one is there asking to see the latest report. You need to create your own report. (avg. revenue per customer, income year to date and month to date, trends in their industry, etc.)
9- Servant leadership always wins! There is a fine line to draw between being a pushover and exuding a servant attitude. I encourage you to desire to serve others, help others. Perhaps as a mentor for someone starting out. The successful leaders are servants to their clients, peers and colleagues. They are helpful when they can be, understanding that they are engaging in those things that will also further their business and relationships that will be in line with their vision.
10- An effective leader continually works on growing themselves!! They don't take the easy way out! They work HARD!!
Always an attitude of hope, can-do-while keeping your nose to the grind stone and it WILL happen!
Do you have what it takes to be a great awesome leader? Are you ready to work hard? And have fun while doing it? Are you ready to go out of your comfort zone at times and do things that may feel weird to you? Are you ready to be a servant leader? Are you ready to get your plan together and start your business afresh and put into use many of the items we reviewed today?
I sure hope so!! IT CAN HAPPEN!! Remember, "If it's to be, it's up to me!"
If you would like to take advantage of a complimentary coaching session with me, simply email or call me and we can assess how best to move YOU and YOUR business forward!
Janice Copeland, Owner and Founder-Unlimited Growth Potential, 703-727-4155, www.UnlimitedGrowthPotential.com, Janice@UnlimitedGrowthPotential.com ©
Janice M. Copeland, author of 15 No-nonsense Strategies for Women and myriad self help CDs covering topics pertinent to every area of a woman's life, has over 20 years of combined corporate and entrepreneurial success. Climbing the corporate ladder to a senior level position with responsibility for a team of hundreds taught her many life lessons that she shares readily to her coaching and consulting clients.
She coaches women who are ready for change for the better. Women who know there is more to life available to them, but don't know how to claim it.
Check out all of her resources geared toward helping busy executive women live more balanced, stress and guilt-free lives with more passion and purpose at http://www.unlimitedgrowthpotential.com or call her at 703-727-4155 and ask her your toughest questions. She looks forward to helping you live a vibrant and meaningful life! Yes, you can do it! (even with kids, laundry, hubby, a pile of dirty dishes and a dog that slobbers :))
(c) 2005
 Google News Updated : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:50:53 GMT Nobel Peace Prize winner wants jobs for the young - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - AP HELSINKI, Finland: Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari said Saturday that finding jobs for more than 1 billion young people in the Middle East and Asia will be a major challenge to peacebuilding in the next decade. Ex-President Of Finland Is Awarded Peace Prize Nobel Finn Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:12:07 GMT Palin hammers Obama on the abortion issue in Johnstown - CNN
CNN - (CNN) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin took her message to voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Saturday, lashing out at Sen. Barack Obama for his views on abortion. Palin drubs Obama on abortion during Pa. rally Palin Gets Personal On Abortion Issue Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:06:21 GMT Stevens's Reputation 'Sterling,' Powell Says - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Del Quentin Wilber Former secretary of state Colin L. Powell told jurors in the corruption trial of Sen. Ted Stevens yesterday that the powerful Alaska Republican had a "sterling" reputation among the nation's military and political leaders. Reporter's Notebook: Powell Takes the Stand for Stevens Powell says Sen. Stevens' integrity "sterling" Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:13:53 GMT Obama Aims for Electoral Edge, Block by Block - New York Times
New York Times - Lukas McGowan is focused on getting voters out on Election Day. “Once we register them,” he says, “that’s only half the job. Obama thanks McCain for remarks, presses attack FOX News poll: Obama leads McCain Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:21:34 GMT This week in Apple: New notebooks, new writers, and more Woz - Ars Technica
Ars Technica - By Jacqui Cheng | Published: October 11, 2008 - 09:30AM CT This week's most-read Apple news was all over the map, but in a good way. Don't Buy A Mac Laptop* Apple may launch new laptop Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:43:05 GMT GM Is Said to Be in Preliminary Talks With Chrysler (Update2) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Jeff Green Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Corp. is in preliminary talks with Cerberus Capital Management LP's Chrysler LLC about a possible merger or other partnership, people with direct knowledge of the talks said. Source: Chrysler, GM discuss merger, acquisition GM mulled Chrysler acquisition: Huh? Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:39:15 GMT Marriage ruling not the end of debate in Conn. - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Now that the Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled same-sex couples have the right to wed, opponents of gay marriage are pinning their hopes on an infrequent ballot question in a longshot bid to block the unions. Video: Connecticut Court Allows Gay Marriage Conn. Ban On Gay Marriage Reversed Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:41:18 GMT Amazon Associate Software |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Leaders need to:1. Have a vision to which they are... Read More The Center for Management and Organization Effectiveness talks with Dennis... Read More When you first meet someone who is blind, deaf, or... Read More Spencer Johnson really hit a nerve when he wrote Who... Read More latent (adj.) ? Not visible or apparent, but capable of... Read More Many potential leaders in business sabotage themselves and their organizations... Read More When it comes to fishing, my husband takes the lead.... Read More People don't leave jobs; they leave bosses. -- AnonymousCongratulations. You're... Read More Although new ideas lead to creative solutions, they can be... Read More Go to any educational institution, look at airport bookshelves, shopping... Read More "...And winged hope, with heart of fire, To gain the... Read More Are your meetings generally a waste of time? Do you... Read More Ask anyone about what makes a good leader and they... Read More Answers are often before our very eyes or in front... Read More During the Second World War, Winston Churchill had a framed... Read More Anne was a new supervisor, and like many new supervisors... Read More A good strong example of a family leader would be... Read More Any man would be justly proud to claim even a... Read More President Ike Eisenhower once demonstrated the difference between leadership and... Read More There can be no doubt that the ancient author of... Read More How do you get your people on your side? And... Read More SET CLEAR AND REASONABLE OBJECTIVES FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS: Plan?... Read More To excel in business we need conscious command of all... Read More Studies have shown that companies that have acquired competencies to... Read More The first time I meet a leader to decide if... Read More
Adsense
websites
The Three Essential Attributes of a Leader: The Demonstrated Abilities
Boy Scouts of America and Leadership Coaching
How To Get To Know A Disabled Person
It?s Not All About Cheese: The Missing Component in Employee Development (Part 1)
10 Ways to Develop Your Latent Leader
Career Advice for Business Leaders: Empowering Others
Lessons In Leadership: What Not To Do... From A Canoe!
F2 Leadership
Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part 3, Drifting From the Topic
Leadership - Passion, Purpose, Profit - Its Not That Hard
3 Ds For Leadership Action... Dedicate, Direct, Dialogue!
The Code of the Conference Leader
Premature Articulation
Wanted: A Dictionary-Perfect Leader
The Leadership Strategy: An Unmined Comstock Lode of Results
Are You Playing or Practicing Leadership?
Father Knows Best
A Call to Men to Live a Strenuous Life!
Are You a Leader or a Manager?
The Tao of Leadership
Getting Things Done, Without the Sweat!
Effective Leaders are (#2) Technical
What Does Exceptional Business Success Require of Us?
Why Not Lead With Emotions?
In Leadership, Good Enough Is Pretty Bad
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Coaching a Leader
One of my favorite memories growing up as a child... Read More
The Leadership Vacuum
In today's fast moving, ever changing, and highly competitive world... Read More
Top 25 Leadership Quotations
Ponder what it takes to be a true leader with... Read More
Get Angry And Then Get Results
Leadership is not about winning a popularity contest, it's about... Read More
Five Things Smart Leaders Do to Lower The Barriers To Change
Smart leaders understand that they don't "make" a change happen.... Read More
The Leadership Talk As A Living Hologram
The hologram is a three-dimensional photograph made on a flat... Read More
Secrets of Creating Success with Ease
Do you ever strum your fingers on the desk top... Read More
Two Vital Abilities Any Leader Must Have
As a business owner, you are a leader whether you... Read More
Stand Out as a Leader, Do 5 Things Better! Number One: Improve the Quality of Your Decision Making!
The manager administers, the leader improves; the manager maintains, the... Read More
Leadership Development and Jumping Out of Airships
A German silent film melodrama depicts an airship bombing London... Read More
Being an Extraordinary Leader Through Tough and Challenging Times
Tough and challenging times will surely come. That is a... Read More
Leadership Training and Character
The vast majority of leadership training available to managers focuses... Read More
10 Ways to Develop Your Latent Leader
latent (adj.) ? Not visible or apparent, but capable of... Read More
How To Get To Know A Disabled Person
When you first meet someone who is blind, deaf, or... Read More
Listening Like a Leader
Our studies of the most effective people in corporate America... Read More
Leadership Styles and What We Need For the Future:
By definition a leaders leads a team to take action... Read More
A Whack Up Long Side The Head Of Human Resources: The Leadership Imperative
When we perceive the simple center in the seemingly complex,... Read More
The Top 10 Questions for Socially Responsible Leaders
The assets of your business traditionally include property, plant, equipment,... Read More
Partnership: Choose It or Lose It
Charlotte decides to do good. Charlotte is a highly motivated... Read More
People Problems -- Understanding the Dueling Paradigms
You've spent the last 12 years riding your technical skills... Read More
Leader is Not a Title
There is a steady flow of information in the form... Read More
Make The Elephant Jump -- Leading With A Kind Heart
Leadership is not about getting people to do what they... Read More
The Incandescence Of The Human Spirit
There lives within every individual a power, an energy, an... Read More
The Six Essential Leadership Attributes
Leadership is the foundation for all organizations, whether corporate, nonprofit... Read More
The Code of the Conference Leader
Are your meetings generally a waste of time? Do you... Read More
Leadership |