Inspiring a team to follow you and do their absolute best is not about the money or tight control. It’s about leadership. For many small-business owners, building a team of creative, passionate, hardworking go-getters seems like a distant dream. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Here are five guiding principles that some of the best leaders follow:
- Love Your Team
Your team members are not units of production. Every single one deserves to be treated with respect, dignity, and a caring heart. “Love your team well; treat them like family, and they will act like a family,”
- Give Praise
Make a habit of catching people doing something right and letting them know about it. A sincere and specific compliment is so unusual that it immediately sets you apart. A simple nod or smile showing your approval is worth the world, so take a few minutes a week to walk around your company and find awesome.
- Seldom Use Your Power
A boss has an iron grip on his team, expecting every employee to immediately jump at his command. He has more rules than Stalin. Disobey, and you could be gone in an instant. A leader, however, realizes the only power they can use is persuasion. Don’t boss people around. Instead, explain why you do what you do.
- Surround Yourself With Rock Stars
It doesn’t matter if you are trying to fill a minimum-wage job or selecting a new leader for your company. Hold out for the absolute perfect person. Having the right people in the right positions allows you to do your best work. So take plenty of time, set your standards high, and keep crazy out of the building.
- Cast Your Vision
If you play for something bigger than yourself, you play much harder and smarter. And the same holds true for his team. They work harder because there’s a sense of calling. The key to becoming a great leader is serving your team and everyone around you by putting them first. If you do, you’ll be paid back in full with loyalty, hard work, and extraordinary results.
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