Charting Your Team's Course
Charting Your Team's Course: How to lead with clear direction!
When meeting with business owners I often discuss their dreams and goals. Most business owners talk about the goals for their business and the vision often ends upon their retirement from the business. Business owners who act more like the captain of a ship and less like the owner of a boat will have stronger employee engagement and better financial performance. Business owners can continue taking these steps to be a more engaging and inspiring leader.
The following are the 4 most essential considerations to chart your team's course:
- Give Employees Input On The Direction – The best business owners set a general direction and let employees contribute to the discussion to define a more specific destination. Employees who are involved in discussions about the destination of the business are more committed to working harder to reach the end goal.
- Continue To Refine the Vision – To bring your vision to life, a business owner should continue to bring the vision to life. A clear and descriptive vision will help the leaders and employees have a better understanding of the reason for their hard work.
- Create a Plan That Sets the Course – As the captain of the ship, the business owner can work with the key leaders to define the specific steps and strategies to take to reach the final destination. Charting the course and helping employees focus on the next stop will help make the goal more attainable.
- Celebrate the Successes – For most companies, the ultimate destination may be difficult to quantify and harder to reach. Employees love seeing the fruits of their labor, especially when they can work side-by-side with the owner to accomplish a goal. Create a fun environment for your journey and recognize team members for their successes.
When business owners approach their business as the captain of the ship, employees are more engaged and less inclined to leave the organization to pursue other opportunities. Leaders and employees will have excitement about the future which will resonate with candidates who are considering employment with the organization. By retaining their best people and attracting highly qualified employees, the business will be in a great position to achieve stronger financial results.
