Small Business Leadership: The Clueless Manager

I stay continually amazed at how clueless many managers are about what their team members want, yet they’ve been managers for years. Ask questions of your team
members and listen to their responses. Your job is to make sure they have one heart. 515337 the leader

When put in charge, take charge, and have the courage to do the right thing. Continue to show appreciation of your team. Courage is not passing it off or acting cowardly. Courage is tak- ing the necessary action steps to get to a worthwhile goal. Make a commitment to the goal and make a commitment to get better. Taking risks is OK, too. Players who take no risks usually lose. Don’t let your ego get in the way.

Leadership is essentially the ability to lead, inspire, and in- fluence. Leadership must define the talent. Leadership and teamwork are intertwined. You are the leader of your team, so lead by example and don’t expect your team to carry you. The following few easy actions can help you maximize the output from your team:

• Hire the right people (discussed below). People won’t burn out if they are the right people, if they are open to train- ing, and if you continue teaching them.

• Utilize their strengths. Maximize everyone’s talents through leverage, training, expectations, accountability, conse- quences, and empowerment. Realize that very rarely does the true core of a person ever change. Sadly many managers tend to manage around their team members' weaknesses. Avoid this tendency & forever strive to manage around a team members' strengths.

• Train. Hold training sessions from 8-9 a.m., four days a week. An employee cannot find money if they don’t know what they’re looking for or where to look for it.

I would love to hear your ideas in the comments. In case you missed it, you can downlaod Chapter 1 of my book, Come Hell or High Water by clicking here!

BRING MARVIN TO YOUR GROUP...

Marvin LeBlanc is a professional entrepreneur who built a thriving business in the insurance and financial services industry for 30 years, and who is still actively engaged in his business in New Orleans, Louisiana. A Dale Carnegie graduate and professional member of the National Speakers Association, Marvin is available to motivate and inspire...