Leadership Rules

Responsible and accountable

The current world of business requires you to report every action. Open ears for feedback and answers to all questions, no matter how unpleasant it may seem to you. The leader is responsible to customers, investors, shareholders, the authorities - but first and foremost to his followers, and his team. As captain of the ship, you will navigate the course and are responsible for following it - in a storm, even more than in normal weather. Therefore, rather than shy away from questions that you ask, develop systems and processes that increase transparency and promote your reporting.

Return to Reality

You - the leader. Let's say you have a good position, comfortable room with lovely views of the landscape ... and the complete loss of touch with reality. Or - the mass organizational work, reports, meetings ... and also the absolute loss of touch with reality. You have a vague idea that, in fact, happening at the lower levels of the hierarchy of your business - that's where your products are produced, there are innovations and make real sales. Time to come down from heaven to earth, and to penetrate into all the details - maybe even to work "in the field", as do the leaders of fast-food corporations. Your business now need not fatherly guidance and wise look over and your direct participation in the search for new paths to success.

Turn emotions

You have not forgotten the value of words of Marie Antoinette, "If they have no bread, let them eat cake"? People - employees and customers - are increasingly perceived as a faceless leaders of resources, not as individuals. But every member of your team and your customers - people with their emotions and fears about the future. You as a leader need to feel their emotions - and find the right solutions for each case. It is not enough just to come to the staff and say: "We need to work better, you need to increase sales, and you, too, in the direct interest" You have to feel the real pain points of each worker and the client and help them to find the best customized solutions to their problems. Meet people in person, and they are happy to tell you all. The ratio between the meetings with customers and talking with subordinates depends on the specifics of your business. And what to do with their questions, you already know.

Look for the rainbow

Now contemplate all the storm, with the roar of rushing over the global economy. But you - the leader, and thus, your mission - to seek glimpses of light and anticipate where the rainbow shines. That is - to seek and anticipate opportunities for a powerful breakthrough in your business prosperity and welfare. The more you succeed in distinguishing even the slightest hint of the possibility, the more successful will be able to achieve.

Go to the "I" to "we"

Today more than ever the importance of cooperation and teamwork. Strengthen team spirit, promote collaborative work of your people with each other and with the rest of divisions, eradicates division into "us and them" within the company, and help joint projects combine - but not by a "team building" and "corporate pyanok," but in real work. Look for partners with customers, suppliers, competitors yesterday - not forgetting that the cooperation should be mutually beneficial. Do not short in the "ivory tower", participate in joint work themselves. Recognize achievements of the team, without attributing them to itself. You see, all of this is useful not only for business but also for you personally.

Keep maneuverability

The world already unpredictable and ever-changing, today even less stable than you would like. Keep your eyes and ears open, be sensitive to the slightest changes, to anticipate developments that are ahead. Be willing and able at any time to replay all, any change, the most wonderful plan. Encourage marketing - research and innovation will help you keep your finger on the pulse and achieve their goals, despite changing circumstances. And not despite but because of this very circumstance.

Keep it simple

Today everyone is afraid to complex products, obscure conditions, complicated processes and tricky pages of fine print in contracts. Yesterday difficulty was in vogue, and the possibility of "fish in troubled waters" looked tempting. Now you need something quite different - simplify (without losing quality), increase the transparency and clarity. This is advantageous because not only attracts customers but also enables efficient use of funds within the company.

To ask questions

Leadership today - it is not the ability to give an answer to any question, and the art of how to ask the right questions. Be open to others' ideas, use the intellectual potential of other people, take all factors into account. Of course, the decision to accept you, but not necessarily painful to think of himself all the possible options for the future and look for all the answers alone. Others may suggest something to you that never have thought of themselves. And then another and joyfully realize their ideas - for the benefit of all.

Adapt

Today business cross border, cross-culture, hybrid, and your success may lie at the crossroads of different traditions, business approaches, different products finally. Be prepared to adapt to different beliefs, cultures, images and modes of living, currency, pricing principles. Do not betray the true values ​​and not lose face - neither his nor your company - but do not reject the possibility of cooperation just because your potential partners to do business a little out the way you used to.

You can do it!

Certainly are unnecessary. Change comes to those who believe in them and does more than possible to improve the situation. Your role as a leader today - is to restore confidence, to catalyze the creative energy and provide a path to a brighter future, however pathetic it may sound. Just remember, no matter what amount of effort spent on changes, you shall deem appropriate or sufficient - in fact require more changes.

"Who am I? And am I the leader? "

Someone will think: "These rules are not for me. I'm not the boss, not the charismatic prophet, I am a manager. " No, no - just for you!

Leadership does not depend on the position of any age or sex, nor on the list of achievements, not on the number of subordinates (they may not be). If you inspire yourself and others on this or that work, if people follow you, if you can arrange them, then you are a leader. Leaders have innate qualities, and have acquired skills, but in any case the only person who could prevent you from being a leader - you.