Here are five ways to be a more effective leader today:
1. Remain keenly aware of the message you're giving. There are no "off the record" moments in leadership. Consider the example of a store owner/executive/manager who tells the team that he/she feels confident that goals are achievable but then talks about how much customers are cutting back or that the store don't have enough of the products that are selling. What messages do you send, especially in casual conversations with your staff?
2. Keep the focus on what the staff can control. Why talk about the economy if you can't personally do something about it? Why focus on pricing or inventory levels if those things are decided at the corporate office? The staff should be discussing how to increase the average sale or pull in more traffic. Spending time and energy on what you can't impact is nothing but an energy and time waster. Do you keep your staff focused on what they can control?
3. Have a daily plan of action. Action is the key word. It's amazing how busy an owner/executive/manager can be and still have his/her store(s) in a slow death spiral. I was once in a company meeting where everyone was brainstorming what we could do to turn the store sales around immediately. After coming up with a less than impressive list of ideas an employee said, "Are we just going to keep rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, or are we going to figure out how to pump out the water?" He had a point. Our list contained either low-impact ideas or things that would take forever to payoff, neither which was going to save the store. We changed our focus and ended up with a list of ideas that we could begin putting into action right away. Do you and your team have a daily plan to succeed?
4. Remain positive and upbeat without being Pollyannaish. As a leader, it is up to you to keep your staff's spirits up and keep them feeling good about the possibilities. Is that sometimes hard to do? You bet, but nobody said being a leader is easy. The difference between realistically positive and mindlessly optimistic is #3 above. When you have a good plan and you work your plan, then you don't have to worry about being a Pollyanna. Are you being a positive enough leader?
5. Lead by example. You can't just say "do this" or "do that," you have to demonstrate how to do whatever it is and then let your staff see you doing what you ask them to do. There is no break in being the leader. So let me ask, are you displaying the right behavior at every opportunity?
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