A company’s success is made up of different components – strategy, talent, competitive advantage, and leadership. All of these processes play a role, but leadership becomes one of the main reasons for the success of business.
Some businesses succeed despite their leaders, but as a general rule, it’s the leader that determines the direction of the strategy, provides the inspiration and shapes the culture that will keep the talent motivated and productive.
The leader employs the tactics and decisions that form, to a large extent, how the competitive advantage will play out. As a leader, and as a woman and minority who came to the United States at a young age, I have a different perspective than the general traditional picture of leadership.
I realized there are many ways you can leverage your leadership to impact your business positively:
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Developing talent
Effective leadership is about mentoring, coaching, and teaching your team. The more you can work toward developing the talent you already have, the more likely they are to increase their productivity. It also helps them stay loyal and committed. It will help them feel inspired to offer ideas that can further help the business gain a competitive advantage. Personally I’ve found it helps you reach your strategic targets faster.
Your interest in developing the gifts of the talent already on your team illustrates that you are acknowledging they have a tremendous role in company results. It also shows them that you value them as individuals.
In return, they will want to do more for you and the company. They’ve been made to feel more like an integral part of the organization.
I have experienced this first hand in helping many different types of people on my team. Helping them grow into their roles and discover what they would like to contribute to the organization. This has been satisfying for me as a leader, to assist and guide them. While the company has also benefitted from developing this talent into their real potential, it has created a competitive advantage for us. -
Creating greater efficiencies
Your ability as a leader to see where improvements can be made is crucial. You should clearly communicate what can change to further efficiency gains. This includes providing the resources necessary to make those improvements.
First, in being able to show how efficiency is needed has illustrated to my team that I am interested in continuously improving the business and that you are willing to put the company resources into doing building greatness. This makes their job easier and alleviates some of the time-consuming tasks or duplication of efforts. Your team can focus more on your customers or other aspects that drive revenue for the business.
Communicating why efficiency is important and why the changes are necessary. I have encouraged my team to look at things the same way so they can also identify areas of improvement.
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Pushing innovation through organization
By leading in an innovative way, I have also been able to provide the framework for others to focus on innovation. This can help the organization do things differently to press forward and succeed in a big way. Moving your innovation through can also be a means for developing the disruptive solutions that can set the business apart from the competition.
I learned this technique from my former boss Zac Johnson from Blogging.org.He taught me that if I put my innovative leadership processes to work this will help redesign my organization to stimulate an environment where creativity and innovation can freely occur and where the team feels they can explore their ideas.
This type of success seems to have a better chance because you have created an atmosphere of free thinkers.
How Leadership Style Flows
A leader creates this positive impact on the business through their leadership style as well as through specific actions. I have included clear and consistent communication that articulates why this approach can help the organization succeed. It helps how the team is contributing to making these results happen.
I have also provided the framework and processes that back up these leadership methods.
Finally, I have delivered the tools and other resources, such as training and development programs, work flexibility, and culture. These help promote the ideals and values that drive the positive impact on the business.
In this way, it’s not just about a leader’s ideas or even their actions. It’s also the overall holistic approach. Including the presence they create, how the talent is treated, what the leader promotes and how the leader creates – in the business environment. A way in which change can occur, and the business can have a positive development.
