Leadership – Who’s Driving Your Business?

In recent blog entries my partner, Dennis Kelley has explored the importance of leadership and mentoring. Perhaps the best first question to ask is: "Who’s driving this business?”

When business performance needs to be improved, it is wise to start the improvement process by first exploring the source of the business leadership. From our coaching experience we have found many instances, when a business is not performing, the leadership direction is unclear and is not understood by the team.

Leadership is about painting a current picture of the future in the form of a vision. Ask yourself, “Where do I see this business in 100 years?” Shape the company’s vision on the answer to the question. The common thread in all great leadership stories is the ability to create a vision and then to share the vision with the team, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. Leadership is a powerful creative tool. When embraced by business owners, a clear vision has an immense impact on the success of the business.

Corporate managers have been guided by this leadership concept for some time. Many of tomorrow’s leaders embrace this philosophy:

“Every executive, every manager, to fulfill their role, must have a vision – a vision of where the organization will be and what it will look like in the future.

They must create that vision and then share it with those reporting to them, if they are to gain a high level of employee involvement and commitment and attain a high level of productivity.”

So it is in businesses of all sizes. To succeed, the owner must paint the picture and be willing to share that vision with the team. It is from this beginning that so many success stories have evolved. And, unfortunately, it is in the absence of vision that so many businesses have failed.

Who is driving your business?

Many business owners are challenged when their future direction becomes unclear because of rapid technological changes occurring in the market. Furthermore, excellence in the level of service demanded by the customer increases as you meet yesterday’s level of expectations. The need to continue to deliver better products or services challenges the vision of leaders and the team’s mission. The unfortunate result is low morale, absenteeism and resignations, which are signs that leadership has become overwhelmed and needs to be revamped.

Increasingly, we are encountering business owners who seek help to refocus and to reignite their vision for success. With a little help many business owners are able to regain that leadership so vital to their success.

Dennis and I work everyday with clients on vision, leadership and strategy for their businesses. We’d be happy to meet and talk with you about where your business going and how to create a successful pathway.