Leadership, do you have what it takes to lead?

Today’s world has changed and especially for leaders.

From culture to salaries, each employee has changed what they are looking for and what makes them want to be part of your company.

At times it’s like trying to hit a bullseye on a moving target.

Culture

For some companies it’s about making yourself more apparent and actually introducing yourself to the entire staff. Example, if you’re a leader for a manufacturing company, get out in the plant and say hello to as many people as you can. There has been many times the individuals that work in a manufacturing setting don’t have direct contact with the leadership. They feel like no one even knows them or cares if they do a good job or not. All they know is, they have to make X amount of widgets per day and that’s all.

Great leaders get out of the office and have meetings with their management but also take the time to go around and say hello to all the staff. They take the time to talk and also listen to what they have to say.

One of the biggest obstacles leaders have is, they only hear what their direct reports tell them or show them. Sometimes you have to get out of the office and get your hands on the actual workings of the company to understand where some of the hang-ups may be and what is holding them back.

Technology

Working with an outdated system is certainly going to hold you back from performing at a much higher rate of speed. With remote work or hybrid work, it’s especially important to make sure you have the latest software's to storage or devices.

Remember, the world changed on how we all do business now. Keeping an outdated system will just slow you down.

Communication

Did you know as a leader what you see for a company in the way of culture or vision is much different from those within the company? It's true. You can have a meeting with all your direct reports and tell them directly what YOUR company vision looks like and by the time they leave that meeting they go and give their direct reports a whole different vision. Why is that? It’s because your direct reports have been led to believe that you may want to change things but unfortunately it never happens. So how do you fix that? Simple, make sure what you say comes true, follow through with what you want and get your team to follow your lead.

Many of times employees within an organization never hear about a new update, merger or any change within the company. They feel left out.

As a leader, you need to follow up regularly with your direct reports and take the time to set up periodic meetings with employees that don’t report to you and see if the communication is actually making it to them and that it’s getting address.

If your mind is really set for change and you want to make a difference, start by getting out of your comfort level and be willing to put in some new changes within your leadership management. Failing is part of life, don't be afraid to fail as a leader. I spoke with a CEO of a large publicly run company not too long ago and asked him how his new stores were performing. He looked at me and said they weren't performing well at all. The stores are falling behind and the numbers are not where he and the board wanted them to be at. They found out that the areas they opened the stores in have changed within clientele to demand. He told me that they were going to close a few of them and the others they were going to work around them with some changes. He was honest with me and didn’t hide anything. He admitted he was wrong. I asked if he communicated this with his company and he said yes. They had a corporate meeting and that was one of the subjects he talked about and told his staff he takes full responsibility for the stores and by agreeing to those locations and their performances.

Remember, be a leader willing to take risks, take a new approach that's different and to be a leader that is willing to get out of his or hers comfort level and be a bigger part of the company, not just the CEO or President.