Leadership Attributes for Business Success

Business success is essentially the result of successful leadership. Contrary to the popular myth, leaders are not just born. Leadership skills can be learnt and developed. A business is a distinct reflection of the leader, who may be the owner or manager. A business is never successful despite the leader, it is always successful or otherwise because of the leader.

7 LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES

There are 7 key attributes that a leader must develop if the business is going to succeed. A leader must have vision, must be an entrepreneur, must inspire others, must set standards, must orchestrate methods, must understand people and must measure results.

1 Vision
Vision is the attribute that drives the leader, the reason for existence and motivation behind being in the business. The vision the leader has allows him or her to clearly visualise what the business will be like when it is fully developed. If the leader is passionate about the vision and allows that passion to create an intensity or internal drive, then that drive will become an unstoppable force that drives the future of the business.

2 Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is someone who creates a business. For the leader with intense vision, the business is a means to an end, the vehicle which allows the vision to be fulfilled. The leaders' function is to develop the business and if the vision is intense, they will never allow themselves to become bogged down by the day to day details. The end result is always the focus.

3 Inspires Others
A strong leader affects others and inspires them to join the quest to fulfil the vision. For the leader, it is much more important that the people recruited to the cause are committed to the same vision, rather than having all the appropriate skills to do the work functions. Skills can be learnt, but commitment is inherent.

4 Sets Standards
The leader sets the standards of performance in the business. If this is not done deliberately it will happen by default. The employees will automatically follow the example of the leader. It is best that the standards are clearly spelled out so there is no misunderstanding of what the leader expects.

5 Orchestrator
To the leader, the way things are done are important. The quality of service the business provides must not be left to chance. The leader takes the trouble to determine the best way for things to be done and orchestrates the methods used in the business to perform the work. This allows the business to be well organised. Quality Assurance systems are based on orchestration.

6 Understands People
The leader understands that the business must meet the needs of people, it must motivate them. It must motivate customers to buy and it must motivate employees to perform the work. In the orchestration process, the leader establishes systems that are designed to motivate both customers and employees to produce the required results.

7 Measures Results
Results is what it is all about. The leader is results oriented and measures progress towards achieving the results, which leads to fulfilling the mission. Knowing the results allows the leader to redirect employees if results are not on track and to reward employees for good performance.

Developing these leadership attributes will help you achieve greater success in business.

Greg Roworth is the Managing Director of Progressive Business Solutions Limited, a business development consultancy firm with branches in Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand. Greg has created a unique business development program that assists business owners transform their business from a state of total dependency on them to a state where the business works so well they don't have to.

Greg is also the author of "The 7 Keys to Unlock Your Business Profit Potential," which descibes the fundamental keys a business needs to achieve this transformation. Find out more, get 2 free chapters, or buy the book online at http://www.small-business-success.ws

---

Reducing the Stress of Being an Entrepreneur

Starting and running your own business can be exciting and... Read More

Cross Polination of Innovations in the Cleaning Industry

According to the latest edition of Pool and Spa news;... Read More

Starting Your Business By The Book

I've gotten several questions recently about the legalities of starting... Read More

Why Most CEOs & Entrepreneurs Fail?

Times are tough. The economy is in a constant state... Read More

Competing With The Big Dogs

You run a small consultancy. You're well qualified, experienced and... Read More

Business Ideas

Richard Branson, billionaire founder of Virgin Records and Virgin Atlantic... Read More

Entrepreneurial Hate, its out there

Today, I got an email from a lady who hates... Read More

Financial Strategies for Transitioning from Salaried to Solo

7 Financial Strategies for Transitioning from Salaried to SoloA 40's... Read More

Corporate Espionage in Franchising

Franchising Trade Journals do not do well, because today with... Read More

Envisioneering

It never ceases to amaze me. Almost everyone peers into... Read More

Expand Your Resourcefullness!

The success and failure for the entrepreneur is largely dictated... Read More

Could a Non-Profit Structure Be Right for Your Business?

If you have a business idea, or an idea for... Read More

Confidence = Preparation + Courage

It always amazes me when I see someone on television... Read More

Questions For The Entrepreneur To Be

Entrepreneurial e-gnorancePart 1: Questions for the entrepreneur to beIf you... Read More

Focus is the Key to a Successful Startup

The definition of a startup means you have very few... Read More

Its Good to Know Your Banker

Recently my bank opened a new branch that is a... Read More

Business Development: The Basic Ingredients

Cooking isn't much different than building a business. You have... Read More

From Bank Clerk to Entreprenuer

What seems like a century ago, I left school and... Read More

Business Name - How to Choose One

It's very important to get your business name right. You... Read More

Lessons Learned from Successful Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are a special breed of high achievers. They create... Read More

5 Habits Of Successful Entrepreneurs

Habits get a bum rap. When you think about your... Read More

Your Company Needs A Mission Statement; Make It Count

Does anyone remember that book "Built to Last" done y... Read More

Work On, Not In Your Business

Are you busy? Everyone's busy! Ask anyone they'll tell you... Read More

Do You Want to Just Survive or Thrive? (Part 1)

You've probably heard this, or maybe you will relate to... Read More

Entrepreneurs - 9 Top Mistakes to Avoid

1. Isolating Yourself When setting up a business, you can... Read More

Starting a Company on a Shoe-String Budget

A lot of people never start businesses because they believe... Read More

How To Start a New Business

While it is tempting to just leap into a new... Read More

Documenting Partnerships in Your Business Plan

Forging partnerships to improve market penetration has become commonplace, particularly... Read More

Raising Entrepreneurs: What to Do When Your Kid is Born to Think Differently

Adolescence brings with it many challenges ? for both parents... Read More

... in Pursuing the American Dream

This morning I woke up at 4:30 in the morning,... Read More

Should You Write Your Own Business Plan?

If you are just starting a company and looking for... Read More

Oil Change Guys History; Part IV

One trait of franchisors and something you will find in... Read More

The Risks of Entrepreneurship

The "spark" for many entrepreneurs is seeing an opportunity that... Read More