Tag: good small business leader

How can you be a good business leader?

No matter how many employees your small business has, you have an important role as a leader. You need to make high-level decisions, inspire employees to be their best, and keep a cool head.

You know that small businesses move fast. They’re more prone to change; communication and recognition come easier; and few employees often do the work of many. Develop these characteristics and skills to help you be a strong leader in your small business.

Emotional stability and maturity

Stress and frustration a constant, so it’s important to face issues effectively without flying off the handle or taking things personally. You should be able to absorb any major risks or obstacles and hold it together during difficult times. Put your own recognition secondary to that of your employees and business.

Leading by example

If you’re always late for work or unprepared in meetings, why should your employees do any better? Nobody’s perfect, but a great small business leader is one who inspires employees through their own actions.

Enthusiasm and passion

Passion is contagious! Infuse the company’s vision and values into the company from the beginning. You don’t need to be able to see the future, but your team needs to see that you’re excited to take on challenges and put in the work to see the business succeed.

Risk management and decision-making skills

Here are some key tips to help you manage risk and make effective decisions:

  • Have a clear understanding of the decision to be made.
  • Consider the vision and values of the company.
  • Evaluate the consequences and outcomes of your decision.
  • Brainstorm as many alternatives as possible.
  • Evaluate the pros and cons of each alternative.
  • Be sure the appropriate person is making the decision.
  • Understand the timeline in which the decision must be made.

Thick skin and assertiveness

Learn to take criticism well and be respectfully assertive in your decisions. But don’t hog all the leadership! Rather than controlling and micromanaging, delegate and supervise effectively. Empowering others to make decisions and handle responsibilities will let the company to run smoothly while you’re away or busy doing something else. It’s also a great way to prove you recognize the value of your team.

High standards and the ability to recognize achievement

You must have high standards for yourself and for others and recognize the potential of your team. You should always try to do your best and encourage your team members to do the same. Be sure to recognize achievement and develop a welcoming corporate culture.

Good conflict resolution skills

When you do have to deal with conflict, do so maturely and productively. Look for a win-win situation whenever possible. You should also take time to uncover the real reasoning beneath trivial issues and recurring disagreements. Stick to your word when you make promises or plans, so your employees have a consistent and reliable leader — sounds simple, but it works!

 

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How to be a strong leader in your business

No matter how many people are on your team, your role as a leader is to make high-level decisions, inspire employees to be their best, and keep a cool head.

Small businesses move fast. They’re more prone to change, communication and recognition come easier; and few employees often do the work of many as compared to bigger businesses. Develop these characteristics and skills to help you be a strong leader in your small business.

Emotional stability and maturity

Stress and frustration a constant, so it’s important to face issues effectively without flying off the handle or taking things personally. You should be able to absorb any major risks or obstacles and hold it together during difficult times. Put your own recognition secondary to that of your employees and business.

Leading by example

If you’re always late for work or unprepared in meetings, why should your employees do any better? Nobody’s perfect, but a great small business leader is one who inspires employees through their own actions.

Enthusiasm and passion

Passion is contagious! Infuse the company’s vision and values into the company from the beginning. You don’t need to be able to see the future, but your team needs to see that you’re excited to take on challenges and put in the work to see the business succeed.

Risk management and decision-making skills

Here are some key tips to help you manage risk and make effective decisions:

  • Have a clear understanding of the decision to be made.
  • Consider the vision and values of the company.
  • Evaluate the consequences and outcomes of your decision.
  • Brainstorm as many alternatives as possible.
  • Evaluate the pros and cons of each alternative.
  • Be sure the appropriate person is making the decision.
  • Understand the timeline in which the decision must be made.

Thick skin and assertiveness

Learn to take criticism well and be respectfully assertive in your decisions. But don’t hog all the leadership! Rather than controlling and micromanaging, delegate and supervise effectively. Empowering others to make decisions and handle responsibilities will let the company to run smoothly while you’re away or busy doing something else. It’s also a great way to prove you recognize the value of your team.

High standards and the ability to recognize achievement

You must have high standards for yourself and for others and recognize the potential of your team. You should always try to do your best and encourage your team members to do the same. Be sure to recognize achievement and develop a welcoming corporate culture.

Good conflict resolution skills

When you do have to deal with conflict, do so maturely and productively. Look for a win-win situation whenever possible. You should also take time to uncover the real reasoning beneath trivial issues and recurring disagreements. Stick to your word when you make promises or plans, so your employees have a consistent and reliable leader — sounds simple, but it works!

 

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What makes a great business leader?

What are the qualities of a strong business leader? As the providers of Canada’s leading small business training, we know that good leadership is one of the keys to a successful business.

Here are some of the key qualities of a good small business leader.

A good small business leader has – and shares – a strong vision

A strong small business leader has a strong vision, both at the start of a business and during its lifecycle. As a small business owner, you’re responsible for setting the direction of your growth, and providing stability even when things are hectic. If your business has employees, sharing your vision with them gives them pride in where they work and demonstrates that you’re a leader who knows their stuff.

A good small business leader leads by example

Which do you think is more inspiring: arriving late to a meeting and interrupting people when they talk, or showing up on time and encouraging productive, two-way discussions? As the leader in your small business, inspire others through your actions, not just your words. Great small business leaders also have strong ethical standards and expect their employees to meet these standards as well. Show that you embody the principles, vision, and values that you have created for the business.

A good small business leader empowers their team

Great small business leaders know that good ideas can come from anyone, and value everyone’s input and unique personality. Encourage your employees to approach you with concerns or ideas, and really listen to them. Delegate tasks to your team members, and invest in business training courses to help them build their skills. By trusting your team to do their best, you’ll show them that they work for someone who has their best interests at heart.

A good strong small business leader is stable under pressure

Being an entrepreneur means wearing many hats, which can mean more stress. The responsibilities of entrepreneurship are real, but a strong small business leader must be able to deal with issues without flying off the handle. Need help managing stress? BDC has some stress management tips specifically for leaders.

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Supporting your team during times of stress

leadership during stressful times

Stressful times – whether it’s a worldwide pandemic like COVID-19, or some other reason – can be tough on a small business. And as the leader, you may be feeling additional pressure. How can you be there for your team and support them, while making sure you’re also doing okay?

To us, leadership in times of stress must start from a place of empathy. We’re all feeling upside-down these days, and we can’t expect to meet the same standards we did before. This applies to you as a small business leader, as well as each one of your employees. Take greater care to engage with your team and make sure you’re giving them the support they need – both for their career and for their emotional wellbeing. Now more than ever, your team needs to see that you’re truly a leader who they want to follow.

And be sure to protect your own emotional health! Here are some ways to deal with stress in uncertain times.

Entrepreneur also had some great thoughts on this topic recently. For example:

Employees need you to understand their anxieties, frustrations, and pain points to be able to support them before expecting them to perform at their fullest potential. Leaders must prioritize connections and meet their people where they are rather than where you want them to be. This is how you build trust and prepare employees to handle a pandemic or similar crisis.

If you’re wondering how to support your time during the current pandemic, take heart – you’re not alone! Entrepreneurs across Canada and around the world are going through the same thing. Check out Entrepreneur’s article: How Leaders Nurture Emotional Well-Being During Times of Crisis.

 

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