The success of any organization is hinged on the ability of the leadership team to execute and take big steps towards the organization’s goals and objectives. An organization is usually a reflection of its principals/leaders. With the influx of new companies in recent times both by individuals and groups, it is critical that leaders follow proven strategies for success and don’t take shortcuts.
There are no shortcuts to success, and the execution of the following leadership recipes will help you attain excellence as a leader.
1. Clearly Define Company’s Mission/Values
An organization’s clearly defined mission and values are the foundation for a successful culture and this step must be addressed at the level of establishing a company.
While the company’s mission and values are being created, the entire team should be engaged so as to allow everyone feel like a part of the process. By including your team in the creation of the company’s mission and values, you help team members embrace the mission and values on a deeper level and build a sense of inclusion. Team members at all levels should be able to communicate the mission and values of the company.
2. Practice Full Operational Engagement
As a leader, one of the most important actions you can take is being fully engaged in your company. Do not over delegate almost every component of your business to the point that you are not able to make the right high-level decisions for your business. Over delegation clearly shows a lack of understanding of what is happening at the ground level. When leaders rely on their executive team to find out front-line information, there is much that can get lost in translation. A fully engaged leader knows exactly what is happening on the front line of his or her company and does not hide in an ivory tower and rely on others to get a pulse for the business.
Full engagement in your company requires discipline as well as humility. A fully engaged CEO is one that regularly communicates directly to the front-line workers and listens carefully. Great questions to ask front-line workers are “Do you feel supported?” and “What can we do to improve and provide you with more support?”
3. Know Your Numbers
All leadership executives are expected to know their numbers in details. When a business owner is asked what his or her revenue and profit is and he or she studders or provides a rough estimate, it is quite clear that he or she is not completely in sync with the numbers of his/her business, and this is a red flag for potential investors.
Leaders should always review their numbers daily and have clearly defined financial targets. Founders and CEOs should constantly drill their teams on the numbers to ensure they are in sync with the business numbers and are well informed about the company’s financial performance.
4. Create a Success Road Map
It is critical to identify the key metrics for your business that drive success. By creating a road map and identifying the specific actions needed for achievement, you work to close the gap between where you are and success.
Every member of the leadership team should have a clearly defined road map for his/her department. For example, the CEO should have a clear road map with actionable strategies on the road to $100 million in revenue, and the Social Media Manager should have a clear road map on the road to 1 million engaged followers on Instagram.
5. Utilize Action-oriented Meeting Minutes
Too often, companies have meetings, and nothing gets done afterward. In this case, meetings can be a waste of time. It is critical to have a dedicated member of the team send out action-oriented meeting minutes directly to everyone who attended the meeting after every team meeting. Whether it is a Zoom meeting or in-person meeting, if there is no follow-up, the meeting loses value.
Rounding off, leaders/CEOs/business owners should consider how well their company executes the leadership strategies listed above and implement changes where necessary to reach new levels of success.
The success of any company is a reflection of its leadership. As a leader, are you playing at the highest level?