FOCUSING ON LEADERSHIP--PART 2

This week we continue with the next quality of leadership to succeed in this industry and that is,

BE A DECISION MAKER--Here is where so many business people slow down and sometimes ruin their opportunity for success. Some people just cannot make a decision and by the time they get around to making a decision the opportunity that may have been theirs is gone.

This is the area that many times will separate the managers from the leaders. The leaders will gather the facts as best they can and make a decision while a manager many times waits and waits for more and more facts in order to make the decision. Whoops! What happened; the opportunity is gone. What about you?

I know a gentleman that is an outstanding manager in just about every way you could judge him but he just cannot make a decision. He waivers one way and then another and then another. If someone makes the decision and then hands him the program or policy to manage he will do a superb job but don't ask him to make the initial decision. I should also mention that most entrepreneurs are just not very good managers. They are great idea people but have a difficult time managing the ideas they generate. That's not a bad thing. I am sure some of you entrepreneurs will take exception to me on this but I really believe that. It also can sometimes make if very difficult for entrepreneurs to teach their managers because, frankly, they are not very good at managing although they may think they are.

I remember one of my staff members many years ago saying that I had some of the best ideas for our company but needed someone to follow behind me to manage all the details. While they didn't mean it as a compliment, I took it as such because that meant we were moving forward. In almost every situation it is easier to find a manager to manage an operation than it is to think it up and put it together in the first place.

Taking it a step further, as an owner of your own contract cleaning company you will have people coming into your office with the "problem of the day". The natural inclination is to give them the solution because , after all, aren't you the all knowing, soothsayer boss that is suppose to have all the answers? Remember, you are an entrepreneur, not a manager.

It is very difficult to have people make decisions in their job if you are always there to give them the answer. Ask them , "What would you suggest be done in this situation"? Solicit their answer and then coach them if you feel they may be approaching it incorrectly. Let me also suggest that sometimes is is "okay" to let them make the wrong decision if it does not jeopardize the organization and they learn a good lesson from the experience. I am sure some of you will disagree with me on this but I strongly believe that and used it in my company to help managers progress up the ladder.

So, be a strong decision maker, know if you are a leader or a manager, then build your staff based on the needs you have. It is not a sign of weakness to not have all the answers and hiring people that help the organization in the areas you are not as strong. In fact, that shows you are a TRUE LEADER AND DECISION MAKER. Remember, as I said in one of the earlier posts, a successful company needs both good entrepreneurs and good managers.

Next week we'll continue our discussion on focusing on leadership. Let me know your opinions on what we are saying.

Also, don't forget our weekly FREE pod casts at www.tripodcast.com. You can sign up by entering your e-mail and clicking the icon.

Also, I hope you are planning to attend the BSCAI Executive Seminar in Scottsdale, Arizona next month. I am hoping to see as many of you there as possible. Go to bscai.org for all the details. It will be a great chance for you to meet other BSC's and quality vendors to our industry.

Till next time. MAKE IT A GREAT DAY.