Successful entrepreneurs may have difficulty translating their business style into an effective leadership strategy. A few tips that can help business leaders provide quality leadership for their personnel include:
- Take time. This is a two-part tip. First, take the time to meet with your staff. Provide a platform for workers to voice concerns and suggestions for improvement. Second, be present during these meetings. Put down the smartphone and turn away from the computer. Make eye contact, avoid interruptions and actively listen to what your employee has to say.
- Recognize the whole. Encourage employees to have ambitions outside of work. Inspire a work culture that focuses on more than just what each individual can provide for the success of the business. Ask about your employees’ hobbies and interests. Well-rounded workers within the workplace are more likely to translate to a positive work culture — which can ultimately translate to increased production. It is also important to note technical accomplishments often result in promotions, but a new position within your organization likely requires more than just technical competency. These individuals will need to have the ability to adapt and apply newly learned techniques to succeed in a higher-level position. Having a better understanding of your workers as a whole can better ensure you promote an individual that can meet the requirements of the new position on more than just a technical level.
- Provide transparency. If possible, be upfront with workers about business goals. Consider letting employees know change is on the horizon when in the process of a transaction that cannot be readily discussed. Providing workers with some information can help ease a transition after a transaction is complete as employees are less likely to feel completely blindsided.
An employer can begin to apply a cultural leadership style when drafting employment contracts. These contracts are often the first negotiations that occur between workers and employers. You can set the tone with a document that clearly outlines your expectations, compensation agreements and other provisions within the employment contract.