10 Critical Leadership Lessons for your Business

24 May 10 Critical Leadership Lessons for your Business

After stumbling across this awesome KISSmetrics Blog, OTV’s very own Long Island, New York website design company wanted to publish its own blog on the power of leadership.

In their blog, KISSmetrics highlighted some of the more critical leadership guidelines, based upon profound quotations from business’s most noteworthy leaders. We would like to honor these guidelines and reinforce the critical nature of pristine leadership, its impact on business and growth, and ultimate recipe for success.

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Source: 10 Lessons on Leadership

Foster Teamwork

Peter Drucker, Management Consultant

A true leader will actually lead by delegating work amongst other individuals of a business. You might have heard the clichéd phrase, “there’s no ‘I’ in ‘team.’” And, as silly as you might feel to admit it, it’s true! Leaders understand the necessity of working together and, further, never fear receiving credit for the success attained.

Encourage Growth in Others

Jack Welch, Former Chairman and CEO of General Electric

According to Jack Welch, the most successful leaders will not only lead others proactively, but hope to draw out the best in each individual. We’ve all met people on the “higher up’s” who feign to want growth out of others, and that is just sad to witness. Welch articulates that real leaders will posit their own success by witnessing and encouraging that same achievement in others.

Boost Employee Self-Esteem

Sam Walton, Founder of Wal-Mart

We’ve mentioned the power and critical nature of employee happiness in other posts; however, proactively boosting the self-esteem of employees is synonymous with overall company success. People not only like to be positively reinforced in their work, but further NEED it. The power of a simple, “Job well done!” is pretty incredible. These basic words have the ability to drive increased productivity and more proficient work in general.

Take Care of People

Marissa Mayer, Former Google Executive and Current CEO of Yahoo!

At our Long Island, New York web design firm, we are well taken care of by our managers. Aside from lunch being catered every Friday, we are often greeted by emails that read, “ice cream in the freezer.” These are the kinds of things that make employees do GREAT work and WANT to continue this trend. Marissa Mayer says that by choosing exceptional workers and then treating them well, you leverage morale and work efficiency by default.

Coordinate and Aim for a Goal

Walt Disney, Co-Founder of The Walt Disney Company

As a leader, you need to make sure your team is on the same page and heading toward the same end goal. The larger the company, the more challenging and ongoing this continuity process will be; however, you can set milestones along the way to aid in moving forward.

Keep things fresh and exciting as well. The biggest catalyst for failed coordination is lack of inspiration. So, if your team feels habitually stimulated in a unique way, they will be compelled to stay on board and produce the innovative work you demand.

Be Willing to be Misunderstood

Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO of Amazon

Like any completely extraordinary and innovative new idea, the beginning phases are often met with uncertainty and doubt. While some people might very well be your biggest cheerleader, others will certainly not. However, some of the greatest ideas and businesses sprung from ideas that were often frowned upon, overlooked, and especially misunderstood. Part of being a leader is firmly standing by your vision and supporting it when no one else does.

Get People to Follow You

Anne Mulcahy, Former Chairman and CEO of Xerox Corporation

Getting people to “follow the leader” in the business world is much more challenging than its juvenile, counterpart game. In order for people to follow you, you must prove that you are a credible and trustworthy individual, not just someone they were ordered to follow blindly.

Inspire People

Fred Smith, Founder and CEO of FedEx

The companies with the happiest employees all possess a strong sense of inspiration. As a leader, it is your responsibility to make sure that everyone does a good job. And, in order to do so, procure fun, stimulating, and inspiring opportunities for your employees. Part of locking down inspiration involves showcasing a challenge, and providing the motivational support and benefits of being a part of your team.

Understand Reality & Give Hope

Ken Chenault, CEO of American Express

Contrary to what press or various departments of a company are saying about the actual brand, a leader must be omnipresent and omniscient. And, further, the leader must possess a realistic outlook on the company at large. In order to diverge slacking when the company is booming, and especially boost morale when the company might be struggling, a leader will elicit the relative motivation and grounding elements amongst others.

Be a Good Listener

Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Group

It is often stated that the best leaders are great listeners. In order to be valued and respected by others, delegate roles appropriately, set goals, and give thoughtful advice, the leader must hear all of the needs of the company. Even in the most fundamental sense, we strongly value those relationships that present solid listening skills from others. As a leader, listening is vital to making those being led feel wanted, important, and valued back.

Leadership is not meant for all, nor is granted to all. It takes accurate demonstration and thoughtful decision-making to be regarded as a true mentor. However, the above lessons are surefire ways to begin enforcing a leadership campaign for your business, coming from some of the most admired leaders in the business world.