Leadership for the Successful Entrepreneur!

Why talk about leadership?"

Leadership is important whether you a leader of a team or are a sole proprietor with no one working for you. Effective leadership is actually a way of thinking, a way to get things done.

Successful entrepreneurs of today MUST possess and exude effective leadership skills!

The best leaders are:

◦Personable, ◦entrepreneurial, ◦ethical, ◦positive, ◦good communicators, ◦work hard, ◦demand excellence, ◦excellent at creative problem solving!

Excellent Leaders:

◦know that the rewards will far outweigh any potential negatives on the road to getting things done!

◦take on the mantra, "If it's to be, it's up to me!" Leaders accept FULL 100% accountability and responsibility for everything in their lives!

Below lists some of the differences between the mindset of the mediocre or average entrepreneur and the successful entrepreneur with the LEADERSHIP MINDSET!

Manager mentality (Mindset of the average entrepreneur):

Cope with the complexity of the day
Engage in present tense activity
Do what they are told
Perform to expectations
Hard Working and Analytical

Leaders (Mindset of the successful entrepreneur):

Enact change
Focused on future-tense activities
Involved in what to do
Create Expectations
Visualize a purpose
Are Imaginative and creative
Passionate about what they do
Are risk takers

Now let's compare their attitudes toward goals.

Manager mentality (Mindset of the average entrepreneur):

Impersonal attitudes toward goals
Identify goals based on need
Tend to be reactive

Successful entrepreneur with leader mentality:

Personal attitude toward goals
Active envisioning/promoting their goals
Are proactive
Create the action
Alter the way people think about what is possible

Next differentiating area to look at is how they see themselves (self identity):

Manager mentality (Mindset of the average entrepreneur):

Peaceful life since birth
Social

Successful entrepreneur with leader mentality:

Struggle to find order
Not satisfied with the status quo
Don't take things for granted
Seek change
Focusing on personal mastery in their own lives

So, which of the above attributes can you relate better to? Actually the ones we called those qualities of a mediocre entrepreneur are those of a manager. Managers are good at maintaining the status quo and add stability to companies, but unfortunately don't make for successful entrepreneurs. Leaders and successful entrepreneurs are good at stirring people's emotions, raising their expectations, and taking them in new directions!

As an entrepreneur it is up to you to ensure that you exude effective management traits when necessary. And that you exude effective leadership skills ALWAYS... CONSISTENTLY!! Leaders are the ones who GET THINGS DONE!! As an entrepreneur who is focused on laying the foundation now for an awesome future in your company, it is VERY important that you lead the vision for what your business can achieve. This includes sales goals, customer service levels, marketing initiatives and every aspect of your business.

The best leader entrepreneurs think, "How do my products/services positively affect my clients?"

So what are some steps to becoming OR remaining an effective leader?

1- It all starts with YOUR VISION FOR THE COMPANY! Who would you like to serve? How many clients will you have? Where are your clients? What difference are you making? Etc. Remember, leaders are visionaries! Leaders always have their eyes on what they would like to see in the future! And they make sure that EVERYTHNG they do is in line with that vision. If it is not, they don't do it!

2- Be a GREAT communicator of the vision! (who you are, what you are all about?.) Leaders are excellent communicators and are therefore able to articulate it effectively to others. They know how to get others to listen, be interested and help.

3- Build LOYALTY!! Leaders let others see how hard they work, how sincere they are in their quest to help and serve others, etc. They ask their associates, employees, clients for feedback and then use it to improve. This will definitely build loyalty!

4- Become an expert!! Leaders are seen as experts in their industry!! An expert in helping your clients BEST!! An expert in seeking excellence in all that they do. They speak, write articles and so much more.

5- Proactively create solutions to problems! The words proactive and creative are key! Leaders don't wait for something to happen? good or bad. They look for and anticipate both good and bad, and try to creatively think of ways through both scenarios. They do not avoid or ignore them, but hit them straight on. Some examples: Let's say your business usually slows down in the summer. A leader will ahead of time think of ways to ensure business does NOT slow down and begin marketing efforts and the like to incentivise business in the summer. OR, let's say a client truly needs your product and wants to do business with you, but they are short all of the money needed. You could either lose the business all together or come up with financing options that will keep you whole while allowing the client to come on board.

6- A leader always gathers and shares nformation/resources to help their clients as well as themselves!

7- A leader willingly accepts full accountability 100% of the time!

8- An awesome leader inspects what they expect! They KNOW their business statistics! And do so proactively. When you are in business for yourself, no one is there asking to see the latest report. You need to create your own report. (avg. revenue per customer, income year to date and month to date, trends in their industry, etc.)

9- Servant leadership always wins! There is a fine line to draw between being a pushover and exuding a servant attitude. I encourage you to desire to serve others, help others. Perhaps as a mentor for someone starting out. The successful leaders are servants to their clients, peers and colleagues. They are helpful when they can be, understanding that they are engaging in those things that will also further their business and relationships that will be in line with their vision.

10- An effective leader continually works on growing themselves!! They don't take the easy way out! They work HARD!!

Always an attitude of hope, can-do-while keeping your nose to the grind stone and it WILL happen!

Do you have what it takes to be a great awesome leader? Are you ready to work hard? And have fun while doing it? Are you ready to go out of your comfort zone at times and do things that may feel weird to you? Are you ready to be a servant leader? Are you ready to get your plan together and start your business afresh and put into use many of the items we reviewed today?

I sure hope so!! IT CAN HAPPEN!! Remember, "If it's to be, it's up to me!"

If you would like to take advantage of a complimentary coaching session with me, simply email or call me and we can assess how best to move YOU and YOUR business forward!

Janice Copeland, Owner and Founder-Unlimited Growth Potential, 703-727-4155, www.UnlimitedGrowthPotential.com, Janice@UnlimitedGrowthPotential.com ©

Janice M. Copeland, author of 15 No-nonsense Strategies for Women and myriad self help CDs covering topics pertinent to every area of a woman's life, has over 20 years of combined corporate and entrepreneurial success. Climbing the corporate ladder to a senior level position with responsibility for a team of hundreds taught her many life lessons that she shares readily to her coaching and consulting clients.

She coaches women who are ready for change for the better. Women who know there is more to life available to them, but don't know how to claim it.

Check out all of her resources geared toward helping busy executive women live more balanced, stress and guilt-free lives with more passion and purpose at http://www.unlimitedgrowthpotential.com or call her at 703-727-4155 and ask her your toughest questions. She looks forward to helping you live a vibrant and meaningful life! Yes, you can do it! (even with kids, laundry, hubby, a pile of dirty dishes and a dog that slobbers :))

(c) 2005

---

Father Knows Best

A good strong example of a family leader would be... Read More

Common Mistakes Extraordinary Leaders Dont Make

When people make a decision (either consciously or unconsciously) to... Read More

The Challenge to Lead

The topic of leadership has been and continues to be... Read More

Building Future Leaders

As a whole we spend a lot of time filling... Read More

People or Objects? - - You Decide

"How you think determines how you act. How you... Read More

Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part 4, Quiet Participants

There are many reasons why someone would decline to participate... Read More

Creating Unlimited Belief for Success!

What's holding your team back from experiencing "breakout performance"?It may... Read More

The SAMMER Test: Leading People To Get The Right Results At the Right Time In The Right Way

As a leader, you do nothing more important than get... Read More

Transformational Leadership

"What is leadership?" When this question is asked most of... Read More

Getting Things Done, Without the Sweat!

How do you get your people on your side? And... Read More

Coaching a Leader

One of my favorite memories growing up as a child... Read More

Leadership for the Successful Entrepreneur!

Why talk about leadership?"Leadership is important whether you a leader... Read More

Stand Out as a Leader, Do 5 Things Better! Number One: Improve the Quality of Your Decision Making!

The manager administers, the leader improves; the manager maintains, the... Read More

The Leadership Vacuum

In today's fast moving, ever changing, and highly competitive world... Read More

Leadership Training and Character

The vast majority of leadership training available to managers focuses... Read More

A Leader?s Ultimate Goal ? Connect to Engage!

Connect and Engage! Your People Are Your Power.It's been said... Read More

Leadership: Wisdom of the Ages

If you gather 100 experienced leaders together to share with... Read More

Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain!

As the 'Great And Powerful Oz' once said to Dorothy,... Read More

Are You The Most Powerful Leader You Can Be?

As someone who teaches, manages, parents or influences you'll probably... Read More

Leadership Skills and Ability

What is true Leadership.Is leadership something we are born with... Read More

7 Excellent Ways To Improve Your Leadership Skills!

Did you know that there are 7 really effective yet... Read More

A Whack Up Long Side The Head Of Human Resources: The Leadership Imperative

When we perceive the simple center in the seemingly complex,... Read More

Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part 1, General Strategies for Unproductive Behavior

It happens easily. You're conducting a meeting and suddenly a... Read More

The Top 10 Questions for Socially Responsible Leaders

The assets of your business traditionally include property, plant, equipment,... Read More

3 Cs Leaders Must Communicate!

"Of every noble work the silent part is best, Of... Read More

Having Fun In Leadership

"Don't measure your life by your goals, but rather by... Read More

Leadership Challenges: The Walls In Our Lives

We have all experienced walls or challenges in our work... Read More

Learn How to Lead People

"Who rules or guides or inspires others"Having excellent guide skills... Read More

Reinventing Failure: Designing Success

I am fascinated by problems. I like to think of... Read More

Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part 6, Deadlocked Discussions

Although a meeting is a vehicle for resolving differences, it... Read More

Ten Qualities Of A Great Leader - Plus 1

Great Leaders are optimists first and foremost. Their tendency is... Read More

The Seven Secrets to New Age Leadership

Did you ever notice that In our American culture, we... Read More

Secrets of Creating Success with Ease

Do you ever strum your fingers on the desk top... Read More