Sometimes Leaders are the Weakest Links in the Chain of Command

Entrepreneurs asked to critique their own businesses point out how much more they

could do, if only they had more capable and enthusiastic employees who shared their

sense of responsibility and self-motivation. And while it is true that a chain is only as

strong as its weakest link, it is also true that we always get the kind of people that we

ask for and deserve. In most cases, the owner/employer is the faulty weak link.

Sometimes, a business owner will gripe that sales people are not professional enough.

That same owner refuses to provide them with adequate training or compensation.

Others think that if their employees would just be more productive and make fewer

mistakes, revenues and profits could increase. However, these same owners have no

adequate systems in place to help eliminate human error or maximize efficiency.

Others want to control everything and delegate no important tasks to anyone else,

and then they wonder why their best people cannot assume a greater leadership role

and shoulder more responsibility.

These assets of human capital have their hands tied by their employers, and as

a result the entire team suffers. Eventually, the most valuable team players leave

in search of greater challenges, more inspiring opportunities, and more lucrative

careers. Likewise – whether they actually realize it or not – the sincere and dedicated

owners or entrepreneurs also miss out on a golden opportunity, both personally and

professionally. They feel held back and frustrated due to a lack of teammates who

share and embrace their ideals and ideas.

It is especially stressful to see the dream within reach – so close you can almost

touch it – but then be repeatedly denied the facility or fortune to grasp it before it

slips away. The good news is, the solution for both employees and employers is easy.

However, it is only attainable as long as business owners are ready and willing to seek

out the cause of their trouble. They must be willing to own up to their mistakes and

rectify them by building a better team and then engaging in a superior team effort.