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Think Like a Leader

Guest post by: Marian Banker

Article Overview: As most of you already know, my mission is "transforming business owners into business leaders". As the economy moves into the next phase of recovery, it will be those who think and function as leaders who will be the winners. Leaders will have identified pertinent opportunities and prepared themselves for advantage as things improve. Are you thinking like a leader? Let's see.

Think Like a Leader

As most of you already know, my mission is "transforming business owners into business leaders". As the economy moves into the next phase of recovery, it will be those who think and function as leaders who will be the winners. Leaders will have identified pertinent opportunities and prepared themselves for advantage as things improve. Are you thinking like a leader? Let's see.

1 - A leader accepts responsibility for business results. As a leader it's your job to recognize and solve problems, make good decisions and take effective action. The more you can systematize the process the easier it will be. But the final outcome, success or failure, is up to you.

2 - A leader is Vision/Mission driven - Do you know what you want for your business? Do you have a clear mission? If not you're just flapping your sails in the wind. You won't be going very far very fast. The clearly thought-out vision is the magnet that pulls you forward. And the clearer, the better. You'll be less likely to get off track, but when you do, the vision will be there to help you get back on track.

Your mission is what you do to achieve your vision. Business leaders have strong missions that take into consideration accomplishing something of value beyond themselves.

3 - A leader is proactive with a Plan - You can be proactive by gathering pertinent information, analyzing it, making decisions and planning a course of action. The plan is the framework or foundation for the actions you'll be taking. You've chosen those actions because you believe they will lead to your goal and, ultimately, to your vision. Plans should always have a timeframe so you'll be able to determine the success of your actions in reaching your predetermined goals.

4 - A leader knows his strengths and limitations - Many small business owners try to do everything. That's a mistake and a big waste of time. It's also the number one cause of feeling overwhelmed. A product developer may not be a good marketer. A strong sales person will probably not be good at administrative details. A leader will delegate those things they are not good at or don't enjoy. Good delegation, with clearly communicated goals, is key to seeing the results you want.

5 - A leader is willing to take a stand - One of my definitions of a leader is someone who is willing to step out in front of the crowd and present his ideas even when they are different from those of the rest of the group. You say "this is what I believe - and why I believe it". The act of stepping out calls attention to you. What you say will be remembered and connected with you.

Who takes a stand? These are people who have the courage, commitment and confidence to state their message and stand behind it. The more powerful the message, the more they will attract believers and followers. Used positively, taking a stand is a great way to allow your market to find you. Those who relate to what you say and do will be your followers. Look at people with lots of followers like Jim Cramer (Mad Money), Suze Orman, Oprah. They all have a clear "stand". And they all have courage, commitment and confidence.

6 - A leader is willing to do the work - A leader must sometimes make sacrifices - it will be hard and sometimes very scary, but the reward is worth it. You'll spend untold hours of your time to accomplish what you'd like; but you are on a mission. You're willing to do the work.

7 - A leader is innovative and creative, and adapts to the environment. - Are your old ways still working? If not, wake up to how business is being done today. Your competition is out there optimizing their presence using the most basic business tool today - the Internet. Listen to your customers, your colleagues and your team. Be open to new ideas and new ways of thinking. Remain flexible and nimble because the rate of change in the business environment will likely continue to accelerate.

We are already 10 years into the 21st century and things have changed a lot since it began. We have instant access to information, contacts and ideas from many locations, environments and cultures. Our job is to make sense of it all and pull from it what will help us forge our place in the new business economy.

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Article Tags: business leaders, business owners, business results



Related Forum Posts
Re: My 200 post - Well GT, You done it again, The Leader and now you have 1003 post, wow. Michelle and Trent, you are a winners too. WTG friends, you are an inspiration.
Blank text field might be better - Hi TheAnonymousMan, I like your idea! I'm assuming it would be similar to the status feature on Facebook where it might say "Kevin is ... " So I think having a blank text field in the profile box (and even "Leader" boxes on the left and top side of the forums if possible) might be more fun than just choosing from pre-set options from a drop down menu:D
Re: Business Women Peer Mentoring Spotlight - Hi Everyone, Gosh, I REALLY appreciate your concrete feedback. This was far more than I expected and I'm glad you said what you thought straight out. Each of you have shared something of value and I want to take some more time to think and really go over what each of you have said. However, I can see there are some things I need to change right away. What an interesting point about a NEW program perhaps making people think they are guinea pigs! This is NOT what I want to convey! It's funny how we can see some things so clearly in others while not always seeing it for ourselves! I must admit there are a few things I've been meaning to change (like my bio which is very outdated). Obviously, these things need to be higher on my priority list. You caught me like the plumber who puts his clients first and doesn't get around to fixing his own tap! As far as my target market, I do feel quite strongly about working with Women Leaders and doing Leadership Coaching with them. It's non-negotiable in my books. In my Executive Coaching training, the terms "Leaders" and "Executives" are interchangable. To me, an Executive is a Leader and so is the Business Woman or Entrepreneur who is CEO of her own business. I love working with decision makers! What I did learn is that I need to avoid opening up the Leadership term beyond what I described above. I'm also wondering if there is a misunderstanding with the general public as to what Leadership Coaching really is. Leadership Coaching is all about developing your leadership skills, both as a people manager and in more effectively running and growing the business. There is ALWAYS room for growth in some way. As well, sometimes, we just need a sounding board to clarify what our next BEST step is. In fact, if a woman thinks she has nothing to work on, then we aren't a good Client/Coach fit anyway. How can she grow if she doesn't see the value of expressing ALL of the great ability within her? How can her company grow if she doesn't see the value of strategic planning for the next best level? Thanks again to you all! I will go back to my website and really question whether I am conveying the right message. I got more than I bargained for in this Spotlight... you generously offered way more than I was asking. I think we could be on to something great for the Forum. Now it's time to let someone else have the spotlight. It would be great if everyone took a turn! In gratitude, Tami


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