Ever wondered why you don’t take action? You know your business needs help.
Your leadership pride may be getting in the way.
“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” —Rosalynn Carter
There’s only so much small to midsized business help you can glean from reading blogs, like this one. There’s only so much startup “how-to” you can accrue from reading the myriad of excellent textbooks and business books which have been written.
Leadership is a funny thing. Many businesses have CEOs who are figurehead leaders. They pontificate instead of collaborate. Figurehead leaders got themselves into this mess. They figure they can get themselves out, as well.
“All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.” —John Kenneth Galbraith
Leaders, no matter whether you are great or mediocre, know when it’s time to ask someone for help. They know what they don’t know. They know that they need to know. Now.
“True leaders understand that leadership is not about them but about those they serve. It is not about exalting themselves but about lifting others up.” – Sheri L. Dew
Why do you have reservations about throwing these ideas on your business table? Let everyone in your organization chew on them.
Your employees will tell you it’s time to ask someone for help. Someone outside of your company.
“Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.” —Colin Powell
If leadership is about solving problems, consider that one of the key problems may be you. Your leadership pride interprets asking for help as a sign of weakness. Your employees see it as wisdom.
Acknowledge your leadership pride. Focus on leadership growth. Grow leadership potential and self-confidence within your employees, in the process.
Stop reading. Take action. Ask for help. See yourself from the outside- looking inward – the way your customers see you.
Gain perspective – and critical skills – so you can lead once again. Your employees and your marketplace will thank you.
“Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.” – Marian Anderson
Babette Ten Haken is Founder & President of Sales Aerobics for Engineers®, LLC. She catalyzes action for business transition, startup growth and professional development. Babette focuses on non-traditional sellers: small to midsize manufacturing and engineering service companies and startups like yours. Her book, Do YOU Mean Business, focuses on collaborative value creation strategies.
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