"The secret of leadership is simple: Do what you believe in. Paint a picture of the future. Go there. People will follow." Seth Godin
There is no one-size-fits-all definition of proper leadership. I tend to be more laid back while other service business owners call me "too nice" in favor for a more authoritative approach. This doesn't bother me at all. What works for them doesn't necessarily work for me and vice-versa. Leadership is not based on personality type or degree of leniency. In fact, as I brought up this point to my colleagues, we found out that we used a lot of the same leadership techniques. We believe in leadership by example. We discovered that we could apply our unique leadership styles to a useful common ground.
Here are the tips that we came up with on how to effectively lead by example.
1. Have a positive attitude:
Imagine that you have a leader that always acts defeated. He never thinks that you have a chance of making your goals, and even when you make the goals, he always dwells on the mistakes.
Now imagine that you have a leader that tells you that anything is possible. He pushes you to make your goals, and he recognizes and praises your efforts. He is always planning for the worst while hoping for the best.
Which scenario would make you more motivated and more productive? The answer is simple. Employees follow the leader's attitude as well as actions. This means that a defeatist attitude from a field service business owner will inevitably trickle down to each department and level of management. The good news is that this is the easiest problem you will ever fix in your company. The antedote is simple: communication and a positive attitude.
2. Partake in professional activities outside of work:
If you are like me then you spend a lot of time working. Now you are thinking, "What? All the hours that I spend in the office aren't enough?!" I hear you. I've been there.
However, your commitment to a professional peer group or other professional activity outside of work can be well worth the extra time. It shows your team that you are ready to go above and beyond the call of duty, that you are credible, and that you care. A lot. Also, lets not forget that there are always valuble ideas and connections to be gained in professional settings.
3. Extend your interest and passion for your company to your employees:
If employees are not convinced that you care about the company, there is no way that they will care about it.
Articulate the mission statement often. At HindSite, the mission statement is hung on the walls and every employee can recite a personal interpretation of that mission. A good leader will point to those signs and ask, "Does this action follow the standards in our mission?" This type of leader encourages employees to feel passionate about the mission and work towards it.
4. Take responsibility and stand behind your team:
Excuses cut your credibility and (guess what) results in a team full of excuses. This sabatoges the progress of your company by creating jumpy and defensive workers. Excuses do not accomplish anything. Blame does not accomplish anything.
Even the best leaders make mistakes. The important thing is that he holds himself accountable. A good leader will be accountable not only for his own mistakes but also for the mistakes of his team. A good leader knows that any mistake is his mistake. By taking accountability for his employees mistakes and finding solutions, a leader shows that he cares about the success of his employees more than he cares about his personal gain.
Owning a service business comes with many stresses and responsibilities. Check out our eBook to get some advice on how to make your service business a success.
