1.
You are separate from your business.
Very often entrepreneurs, professional practitioners and small business
owners are so absorbed by their work that they are unable to differentiate
between their job and themselves, between their work and their lives.
Remember that your business is the means to achieving the goals in
your life; it is not your life.
2. The 'whole' person goes to work every day.
Have you ever tried to leave your right arm at home when you go to work in
the morning? It's a ridiculous suggestion.. Yet that is exactly what we
expect of ourselves and those who work for us. This is not about allowing
personal issues to interfere with productivity. It's about acknowledging
that your whole self shows up. We tend to work a lot harder when we feel
heard and acknowledged. Instead of interfering with productivity, it will
generally boost productivity.
3. You can demand dignity, but you have to earn respect.
There are basic common courtesies that everyone is entitled to. The rest
you have to earn. If you think about the people that you respect, you will
soon realize that you respect them because of who they are and what they
do, not because of 'what' they are. They may come to your notice because
of their role, but it is their actions that command respect.
4. Your actions speak louder than your words.
Specifically, what you reward speaks louder than words. Many business
initiatives have failed because management didn't reward the behavior it
espoused. And what gets rewarded gets repeated. What doesn't get
'punished' is also important in this regard.
5. You can make wise business decisions and treat people
with respect at the same time. Sometimes it is necessary to make some very
difficult bottom-line decisions. Most people, when given the opportunity,
can stand back and say 'that makes sense' or even 'that makes the most
sense'. People are capable of doing this even when their jobs are
impacted. What some businesses don't understand is that HOW you implement
the decision is often more important than WHAT decision you make.
Ultimately, people don't talk about the fact that they lost their job,
they talk about how they were treated in the process of losing their job.
It's an important distinction that affects the reputation of the company
involved.
6. Lead your associates; Manage your systems.
The
businesses that are most successful are those that understand the
difference between people and systems. Systems operate at maximum
effectiveness when they are managed tightly; people operate at maximum
effectiveness when they are led and inspired.
7. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate.
Letting your associates, customers, vendors, backers, family know 'What,
When, Where, How and Why'. Communicating fully - even when it's about why
you changed your mind - creates trust.
8. Have a compelling vision.
Everybody, including you, needs a good reason to go to work every day. Get
crystal clear about your vision and then share it with everyone. Help them
understand and buy into it. This is often overlooked and considered as
taking time away from the business. If you are the leader, this is your
most important role. In addition to giving your associates a clear sense
of purpose, it ends up saving you time as others make better choices (that
is, choices in line with your direction and vision) on a daily basis.
9. Say 'Thank You' Often.
You are not the only one that likes to be acknowledged. The more often you
say 'thank you' - to individuals up, down and across the organization -
the more you will enhance your relationships and your reputation. The
strongest leaders say 'thank you' often.
10. Learn, Stretch, Grow.
Become committed to life-long learning. This applies to what you do for a
living (technical abilities), how you do it (innovative systems and
structures), how you implement it (behavioral competencies), and stuff you
just want to know (personal development, arts, whatever). This will keep
you current in your present position and prepare you better for any
changes down the road.
