Every truly successful business has a great leader at the helm. From Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, to small mom and pop shop owners, great leaders not only think big and are passionate. They are able to adapt quickly to changing situations and encourage those around them to be the best that they can be.
Recently, one of my most valuable Brigade Bookkeeping team members, Marisol, sent me a post with a picture of a pack of wolves. It showed three wolves in the front that were old and sick, but who set the pace. The next five wolves were the strongest and the last wolf was the leader, making sure no one was left behind. The caption read, “Being a leader is not about being in front, it’s about taking care of your team.” I LOVE that saying and the image because it is so true.
That made me think, what makes a great leader? These are the qualities I think separate great leaders from mediocre ones:
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GETS THINGS DONE
There’s one thing you can say for sure about every successful leader, he or she gets things done. They help their team stay focused on goals and keep them motivated.
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PASSIONATE
Have you ever met a successful business owner who wasn’t passionate about their product or service? I haven’t. You would never buy something from someone who said, “meh, we’re okay at what we do, but not the best” right? Most great leaders lead with their heart and often that passion is passed along to those that work for them. I guess that’s why at Brigade Bookkeeping I’m always shouting out that I love numbers and so does the rest of my team!
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EARNS RESPECT
Leaders have to be good at leading others, but great leaders are the best at pointing their team in a positive direction. Great leaders don’t strong arm people into doing things, he or she motivates and encourages others to follow them or to do better. In the end, encouragement and motivation are some of the best ways to earn respect from your team.
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DEVELOPS TALENT
Good leaders are great at knowing their teams strengths and weaknesses. They have vision and can spot talent. A great leader knows that one person doesn’t make a team, so the best leaders are keen at spotting and developing talent. If you want to be a great leader, surround yourself with a team of confident and competent people with future potential, who also want to support you and see your business grow.
Making hard decisions and taking risks are two other things leaders have to do. They’re not easy, but necessary when it comes to leading a team.
Like the wolf pack, a great business leader is always anticipating potential hazards to his or her business and planning for the future. I like to think of myself as mama wolf to my wonderful pack at Brigade Bookkeeping. We are here for you when it comes to your bookkeeping and accounting needs. So join our pack, we’ll look out for you and will never leave you or your business behind.
