One of the most challenging aspects of running a small business involves employee management. Great leaders motivate their team to meet and surpass goals. They inspire growth and success for their business, employees, and themselves.
How can you be a great leader in your business?
1. Know How To Communicate
Communication is a vital part of effective leadership. The ability to understand each facet of a project, process, or organization is important, but it doesn’t stop there. The ability to set expectations for each position and articulate those expectations to employees is equally necessary. It’s also important to understand that each member of your team may learn differently, and you’ll need to have different strategies for training each employee.
Fortunately, today’s work environment offers a myriad of communication tools to help you manage your employees. From conference calls, to emails, to instant messaging, it is now easier than ever to maintain consistent communication with your team wherever you are.
2. Learn to Manage Up
Effective leaders don’t just focus on their own success; they also help their employees climb their way to their own goals as well. Whether you are a manager or a small business owner, there are many ways you can advocate for your employees. Get to know your employees and their professional goals. If you’re a manager, speak up for your team when you see an opportunity available. If you’re a small business owner, look for ways to help your employees grow within your company.
3. Encourage Professional Development
Successful leaders help their organization grow by building on the expertise found in each of their employees. From customer service representatives to the executive suite, every professional has something to learn. By providing opportunities to attend webinars, seminars, or take on tasks outside of their job description, small business owners can foster loyalty from employees by offering opportunities for professional education.
4. Encourage Work/Life Balance
It’s perfectly acceptable to expect your employees to perform well at work. However, it’s equally as important to recognize the need to spend time outside of the office. A rested employee is a productive employee (theoretically). If you have a millennial or two on your staff roster, you’ll want to pay extra attention to this aspect of company culture. With dual-income families on the rise, the newest generation of professional talent needs time out of the office, and they expect you to respect that need.
5. Lead By Example
If you want your employees to perform well, live up to their mistakes, and grow your organization; you have to demonstrate that level of professionalism. As a small business owner, you’ll need to be in the trenches with your employees. If you’re asking them to take on extra hours, you should be doing the same. As you are growing your company, having that relationship with your employees will build trust and loyalty in the long run.