Leadership
A good leader is not one who dictates and instructs with brute force to achieve results. No, a good leader is someone who leads by example, getting stuck in and giving staff members the opportunity to contribute and discuss ideas. Innovation is difficult to come from just one person after all!
An effective leader will:
- Gain the respect of the team by involving them in discussion/decision making and inspire them with a shared goal or vision
- Provide encouragement and be able to pre-determine or identify situations where individuals may be struggling
- Recognise and reward excellent performance while also resolving issues and identifying areas for improvement
Strategy
If you fail to prepare, then prepare to fail. A business strategy is different from a business plan. The strategy is all about the long-term goals and the path to achieving the overall vision you had when first starting out.
Driving a car with very little visibility is dangerous, and so is running a business. A business strategy helps you to understand where your business is heading and what needs to be done to help you get there. It will also help you to comprehend the challenges and opportunities your business will face, as well as will give you plenty of time to prepare how you will address any issues. Giving yourself the chance to be proactive rather than reactive will improve the overall performance of your business.
Delegation
As a manager, it is extremely helpful to know what each member of your workforce's strengths and weaknesses are. With this knowledge, it means you can delegate tasks to each member in a way that will maximise efficiency – if that be time or cost savings. Don’t be fooled into thinking you can complete most tasks by yourself. We all have different strengths and utilising extra hands will benefit the company in the long run!
