Step into Leadership
Stepping into a leadership role can be exciting. It’s a chance to shape the future and lead a team to success. But with a leadership role comes a new level of responsibility. You’re suddenly the person others look to for direction and answers, and it’s your role to create a workplace where they can thrive – while also being accountable for their work. And that isn’t always an easy balancing act.
Leadership is a learning curve – an eternal one at that. By focusing on a few key behaviours and techniques, you can set yourself on the right path to lead well, build a great high performing team and help your business grow.
Here are my 12 tips for new leaders:
1. It starts with you
Leadership starts with self-awareness. To lead others effectively, you must first understand your own strengths, weaknesses, and natural tendencies. Do you avoid conflict, or embrace it? Are you fast-paced and expect others to keep up, or more patient and lenient? Do you like control, or prefer to delegate? Knowing your biases and how they affect your team allows you to adjust your approach and better support them.
2. It isn’t about you
But in fact leadership isn’t about you at all. Great leaders focus on creating an environment where others succeed. So, in addition to knowing yourself, you’ll also need to understand what your team needs from you to perform at their best, and then adapt your approach accordingly. Set clear expectations, remove obstacles, and recognise their contributions. Because ultimately when your team succeeds, so do you – and your business.
3. Lead from the ground up
In small businesses, no leader is above their team. Staying connected to the daily realities and challenges your team faces builds trust and makes your leadership decisions more grounded. And if you want their respect, you’ll need to be prepared to get your hands dirty and step in when needed.
4. Encourage a team approach
In small teams, the success of one person often impacts everyone. Instead of focusing solely on individual performance, create an environment where team members value the team’s success over their own goals. They’ll be more likely to step in and help each other, and to give tough feedback when needed. It reinforces the idea that business success is a team effort, not just the result of one person’s work.
5. Make feedback a daily practice
Make feedback part of everyday conversations- don’t wait for 1:1 meetings. Regular, constructive feedback helps your team grow and keeps everyone aligned. Make it a normal part of your leadership routine, and encourage your team to give feedback to each other directly rather than through you.
6. Celebrate failure and success equally
Innovative teams see failure as a learning opportunity rather than something to fear. Share and celebrate both failures and successes in the team, and talk about what you’ve learned. This approach will encourage your team to be open with you when they’ve made a mistake, rather than hiding it. And if something happens once, learn from it and move on.
7. Coach, don’t just direct
Effective leadership isn’t just about giving instructions – it’s about guiding your team to think critically and solve problems. Adopting a coaching style helps your team think for themselves and become more self-sufficient, which ultimately benefits both them and the business – and lightens your load too.
8. Remember that you set the standard
The standards you set for yourself will reflect in your team’s behaviour – and the behaviours you exhibit (whether good or bad) set the tone for your entire team. If you tolerate mediocrity, your team will too. If you prioritise customer service or kindness, your team will follow suit. Your team is a direct product of your leadership.
9. Make time for it
Leading your team well requires headspace and time. You’ll need to carve out space in your mind and your calendar to focus on your team and your own development. In small businesses, it’s easy to deprioritise leadership amid daily operations and challenges – because rarely does leadership fall into the ‘urgent’ box. But leadership doesn’t happen in the margins – it requires conscious effort and regular reflection on your style, what’s working, and where you can improve.
10. Get support
Being a leader in a small business, it’s easy to feel like you’re on your own. Find a mentor, connect with your peers (the GFSB is a great place to do that), and build a team of people you trust for objective advice and support. Whether it’s informal advice or formal coaching, having a sounding board can make a big difference.
11. Look after yourself
Leading a small business is tough. It’s easy to burn out if you’re not taking care of yourself. Prioritise your own well-being, both mentally and physically. Because you can’t lead others – or your business – effectively if you’re running on empty.
12. Keep learning and enjoy the journey
Leadership is not a static skill, or a destination reached. Sometimes things will work out they way you planned, and sometimes they won’t. Stay curious, and open to learning and experimenting with new ways of leading. Every challenge and success is an opportunity to grow.
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When you’ve been running your own business for a while, you know what works, and it’s easy to rely on the skills that got you to where you are. Chances are, you’re comfortable doing things in a certain way, and your team knows what to expect from your leadership style.
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