Skip to main content

Gratitude & Leadership Qualities

Happy November! This month is always a month of thankfulness for me.   As I enter the holiday season and hit the final stretch of the year, I am always reminded of what is really important to me. As I  reflect on this year, I am grateful not only for the chance to  own a business but also for the journey that owning a business has taken me on.  Being a small business owner is tough, but it has taught me so much over the last 8 years about myself and about others.  We have put over  three thousand people to work since inception and I am truly grateful for the chance to help so many.

I recently had the chance to catch up with a friend and I shared with him how blessed I feel that we have been in business for 8 years, I also talked about how hard it has been.   We talked about the journey of owning and running  a business.  While the journey is what I am most grateful for, it is what has been the most challenging.  In the beginning, I  adopted the mindset that failure was not an option.  I had to work incredibly hard, doing everything—answering phones delivering on sales, accounting.  It was thrilling, exhausting, and frustrating all at the same time.  As the business grew and I added staff, my role became that of manager.  I had to set and manage expectations and confront employees when expectations were not met.  It was scary, frustrating, and humbling.  I made mistakes; some employees forgave them, others left.  Now I am blessed with a phenomenal team. With other people now serving as managers, my role has evolved into that of leader. 

Leaders are not dictators, but rather those people who inspire and motivate others to follow.  This is a tough transition for an entrepreneur who  “needs to do it all.”  In preparation for this new role, I have researched qualities of respected leaders—  if I can learn from others, I will.  In my research I found several constants that I want to share with you today.  Leaders who are loved and effective have the following qualities:

1. They ask questions. Before making decisions, good leaders ask for opinions, thoughts and ideas. Good leaders always ask for more information before making decisions. 

2. They empathize. Good leaders recognize that mistakes will be made and that life's problems may come into the workplace. But rather than ignoring these things, good leaders see people as people - people who make mistakes and have troubles. 

3. They are curious. Good leaders are curious about lots of things and subsequently are open to anything - including criticism, feedback and ideas from employees. 

4. They enjoy life. Good leaders are positive and grateful. No one wants to follow a negative Nancy or complaining Charles. 

5. They listen. Good leaders want to hear what their employees have to say, and they will prioritize time for listening. 

6. They act. Good leaders act on what they have learned, and by acting they demonstrate that they take seriously the insights of others. 

7. They work hard. Good leaders work hard, which shows employees that they value their part on the team. 

I am taking these to heart when going down this next journey, and I hope it helps you as you continue down yours.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving season! Please let us know how we can help you during this final stage of 2015 and into 2016.  

Carey

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Coaching

Happy June!  Summer, here we come!  This month I want to discuss coaching .  I have talked before about utilizing a coach.  Now, I want to talk about being a coach.  I have been blessed with three different coaches across my nine-plus years with ProRecruiters.  They have challenged me to grow by evaluating what I’ve done and what I’m doing in order to determine what I will do going forward. Unfortunately, I do not always serve as a coach to my own team. Creating an environment in which you function as coach to your team benefits everyone. It helps you to see what’s working, what’s not, and potential areas of growth. It allows team members to discover their potential by being challenged to excel. It reveals potential problems while they are still “potential” problems.  And the cherry on top: it builds camaraderie throughout the team. As I have researched coaching, I’ve learned several foundational principles that must be in play if you want to cr...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Difference Between Setting Goals vs Systems

Happy 2019!   First and foremost, I hope that this year is off to a great start and that it is a wonderful year for you both personally and professionally.   To kick off the year, I want to talk about the importance of setting goals.   You might ask yourself why it is so important to have goals.   My mentor educated me on this just a few years ago.   He said that without goals, you become like a hamster on a wheel going nowhere, and no one wants to work for, invest in, or be part of a company that is simply spinning its wheels.   This was a very influential visual for me and enough to give me the incentive to create goals and always be moving forward. In years past, I would set New Year’s resolutions.   To be honest, they would hold for about the first month or two and then wither away and not thought of again until the next year - kind of like a business plan that is written, printed, and then tucked away to collect dust.   However, abo...
Post a Comment
Read more
May the Force be With You!   We all know of the iconic Star Wars line "May the Force be With You."   H ow many times on May 4 th did we hear May the 4 th be with you ?   Star Wars is a cinematic treasure that has impacted millions of people for many years, and will for years to come. So what did it take to make such a deep and lasting impact? And what can be learned from this movie to assist us in making our own positive impact on others in our daily lives in this 9-5 grind? 1   1. Bring in your magic!                   Movies offer an escape from reality and a glimpse at the magic we once believed in as a child. We are unique beings with different skillsets, gifts, diverse backgrounds, and come with a unique set of experiences that make us different from others. Get to know your own “magic” and this will bring out the magic in others. Encourage dialogue. Promote uniqueness, offer a safe space for di...
Post a Comment
Read more