Principles of Effective Leadership For Home Business Entrepreneurs

Author : David Lazear

“Management is doing things right Leadership is doing the right things ”

-Peter F Drucker

A little over 20 years ago I worked as the director of research and training for an international human development organization I was in charge of a number of teams involved in designing and conducting training programs to help people actualize their full human potentials In this capacity I traveled extensively to many different nations of our world and actually lived for a period in several of them

One of the greatest learnings from this experience was how important it is for one in a leadership position to have many ways to help each person be the best he or she can be in their work, whatever it might be

In my case, the challenge of having to do this in a variety of cultures other than my own put me on a very fast track of learning how to lead others effectively

Several of these learnings have become so much a part my being that they are almost second nature to me today, especially when I am working with a group, whether I’m in a leadership position or not

As home business owners and entrepreneurs our leadership capacities are called into play when we’re working with our business partners or our business team, our customers, and prospects who are interested in joining our business

More often than not, our dealings with these folks will be on the phone or in some kind of online presentation, such as a “webinar”

My Learnings About Effective Leadership (5 Principles)

1 I’m a fanatic about making sure that my communication skills are “multi-modal” In other words, I require of myself that, when I present something to an individual or a group, it is presented in at least three different ways

WHY? Because I’ve learned that people learn in many different ways If I am presenting my information in only one way, for example by lecturing, I will be missing those who need to see it visually, or those who need to interact with others

2 When putting together a team, a committee, a study group, or any group with a specific task to accomplish, I always make sure that there are a variety of intelligence strengths present on the team This is based on the research of Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner on “multiple intelligences” and on my own adaptation of which I call “The 8 Kinds of Smart”

WHY? Because I’ve learned that the work of the team will be more creative, they’ll come up with better solutions, and they’ll have more fun working together If everyone on the team thinks the same, the results are usually predictable

3 I have developed a discipline of not allowing myself to make assumptions about other people When others I’m working say or do something that offends me, baffles me, disappoints me, or otherwise frustrates me, I’ve trained myself to cut off the “mind chatter” that prejudges why they did or said what they did

WHY? Because I’ve learned that people are more complex than they appear on the surface To be fair to another, I must talk with him or her about their comment or behavior and let them explain what they meant from their perspective More often than not, prejudgment proves inaccurate

4 If what I’m doing is not getting through to the people on my team, it’s my problem not theirs I assume that I can reach every person and it is simply a matter of figuring out how, of asking myself what changes do I need to make in my communication to get through?

WHY? Because I’ve learned that not only does every person learn differently, every person processes information differently If I assume that my communication is crystal clear, I am thinking from only my perspective, not concerned with what others actually heard or understood from my communication Therefore, I’m not communicating

5 When I’m involved in problem solving, I require a group to approach a problem from as many different perspectives as possible I also make sure that solutions to the problem come from a wide variety of angles

WHY? Because I’ve learned that the key to solving a problem is how you think about it If you continue to think about a problem or challenge you’re facing in the ways you always have, you’ll get the same answers you’ve always gotten It’s the change of perspective that breaks loose creative solutions

Leadership is first and foremost about others and helping them maximize their potential Robert Kiyosaki (author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad) addresses this in his book “Business School For People Who Like Helping People”

We get it wrong when we think that leadership is about being in charge and managing other people

In today’s business environment, especially the work from home industry, that just doesn’t cut the mustard anymore The best leaders are servants of others Stephen Covey coined the phrase “servant-leader” to underscore this shift in the leadership paradigm

Kiyosaki, quoting his “rich dad” says: “Money always flows to the leader If you want more money, simply become more of a leader ”

In my view this means becoming more of a servant!

David Lazear, author, trainer and business coach, provides training workshops for corporations and educators. His coaching services involve working with home business owners and people looking for work from home opportunities. Find out how to turbo-charge your business here @ Home Business Smarts.

Contact David Lazear
Phone @ 773-525-6650

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