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.
SHARE THIS
OTHER
My name is John Hayes, and I'm a really busy guy. Busy procrastinating most of the time. You wouldn't believe how many unessential tasks I had to complete before sitting down and writing this article. Those sales reports and emails don't check themselves. Yep, I've been busy. Busy doing nothing. We've all had one of those days where we feel like we've been incredibly "busy" - but can't quite put our finger on what we actually accomplished. Maybe we spent three hours answering emails, another two fiddling with a spreadsheet no one asked for, and another hour in a meeting that could have been an email or WhatsApp message. At the end of it all, the to-do list somehow got longer, not shorter.
Finding someone who listens, understands, and guides you can make all the difference. For women in Gibraltar, the Women’s Mentorship Programme offers just that – honest conversations and valuable support from people with lived experience who understand. Now in its sixth cycle, the programme pairs women with mentors to help them navigate work, life, and everything in between. Ok, full disclosure: as a recently appointed mentor, that last sentence somewhat triggers the old imposter syndrome and self-doubt, but I am honoured to be part of this scheme and look forward to doing my very best in the months ahead.
We’ve said it before and it’s only getting louder: AI is reshaping how businesses work. From chatbots and smart analytics to automated content and decision-making tools, AI is helping smaller firms punch well above their weight. But with that power comes responsibility. As AI use grows, so do the risks around data privacy, and under GDPR, getting it wrong can mean serious fines and lasting reputational damage.
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.
Over the past 18 years, I've had the privilege of working with a diverse range of businesses and industries, gaining insights into the challenges they face in implementing effective diversity and inclusion strategies. Often, DEI&B is viewed as a 'nice to have' rather than an essential component of business success. With this in mind, I'm excited to share valuable insights and practical steps to help you create environments where everyone can thrive. You've probably heard of DEI&B, but what do these letters really mean, and why do they matter for you and your organisation? Diversity includes differences like race, gender, age, neurodiversity, disability, LGBTQ+, culture, and more; Equity ensures equal opportunities for all; Inclusion values everyone's contributions; and Belonging means individuals feel accepted and integral to the organisation.
Artificial Intelligence promises unprecedented opportunities for small business owners in Gibraltar. As the digital landscape faces constant evolution, understanding AI becomes not just beneficial but essential for businesses aiming to thrive in 2024. In this article, we aim to demystify the complexities surrounding AI, offering an approachable guide to its fundamentals, history, and practical applications for businesses, providing you with the knowledge to embrace this technology confidently.
AI is poised to reshape the legal profession, with 31% of law firm leaders predicting major disruption by 2025. Scott Simmons explores how AI could improve client outcomes, streamline workflows, and drive value. Whether you’re cautious or curious, it’s time to explore AI’s potential.
As the CEO of a specialist security business called Paladin Defence and close protection operative/ private security contractor, I have experienced security threats of all types since 1990. From opportunistic personal attacks to targeted organised commercial crime, I feel there is a lot more we should be doing to defend and protect ourselves. Understandably, Gibraltar is considered to have a relatively low crime rate; but what are the realistic threats and risks to small businesses in our corner of the Mediterranean?
“People want to know the stories behind the products they buy. It’s not just about what’s on the shelf, but the journey it took to get there.” – Stella, Spirit of The Rock As consumer habits shift towards mindfulness and sustainability, the concept of slow shopping has emerged, offering both challenges and opportunities for small businesses. Slow shopping encourages consumers to take their time, make more thoughtful purchases, and focus on quality over quantity.
Corporate Social Responsibility is no longer just for big companies. Small and medium-sized businesses are making a real impact through practical, authentic actions that reflect who they are. From supporting sport, culture and charities to rolling up sleeves for environmental projects, consistent CSR builds trust, loyalty and pride. When businesses show up for their community in meaningful ways, those efforts are noticed and often returned.
In the latest edition of Thrive, regular contributor John Hayes reflects on the uncertainty facing small and medium-sized businesses in Gibraltar. From Brexit fallout to ever-changing frontier delays, he unpacks why the border remains a top concern—and how local firms are adapting. While resolving post-Brexit cross-border issues is beyond the scope of this correspondent, there are practical steps business owners can take to mitigate and manage the challenges of this uncertainty.
Finding time to sit down with a book can feel like a luxury sometimes. We seem to be pulled in all sorts of directions, yet many of us still want to learn and stay exposed to new ideas. Podcasts have filled part of that gap. They’re accessible, conversational and easy to consume while commuting or […]
After teaching in schools for 18 years I decided to take the plunge and embark on a self-employed life. Driven by my passion for teaching children with special educational needs I set out to discover alternative ways to make education accessible to all. My vision was to have the individual in mind, with their own strengths and challenges, and with that came the birth of ‘edYOUcation Clare Francis’; bringing the YOU into learning.
There’s something slightly uncomfortable about sending a contract to a client when you run a small business. Especially in Gibraltar, where relationships matter and business often begins with a conversation over un cafelito rather than a legal document. When you know someone personally, or you’ve been introduced by a mutual contact, it can feel unnecessary to formalise everything. You tell yourself that an email thread is enough. Or that you’ll sort the paperwork later. I used to think like that. Over time, and through a few situations that were more stressful than they needed to be, I’ve realised that putting things in writing isn’t about distrust. It’s about creating guardrails for growth. The clearer the boundaries, the freer you are to focus on doing good work.
When you’re a small business, staying one step ahead of the competition is essential. Yet, many small business owners grapple with the decision to invest in employee training and development. With limited resources and immediate financial pressures, it can unintentionally get pushed to the bottom of the priority list. However, investing in your team’s learning and development is a strategic move that can yield significant returns.
Whilst Brexit hasn’t exactly been a positive event, we can’t deny that it’s also been the catalyst for diversification and change. It was a true ‘before and after’ moment that made businesses rethink their strategies and, in many cases, change their direction of travel. Gibraltar’s newest bank, justbank, is born from this process. As well as heralding the arrival of a new bank, this fresh start gave the team at IDT Finance the opportunity to create innovative and tailored banking solutions from the ground up. I met with Managing Director, Damian Asquez, and Head of Corporate Banking, Nikolai Gafan, to find out more.
Running a small business is an exciting journey, but without proper bookkeeping, it can quickly become overwhelming. Imagine trying to make critical business decisions without knowing how much money is in your account or being caught off guard by a hefty tax bill because records weren’t kept up to date. Good bookkeeping isn’t just about staying compliant; it’s about gaining control over your business, planning for growth, and avoiding costly mistakes.
Mental health issues affect us all. How we manage our daily stresses and anxieties have an impact on our relationships, how we perform in our job and the workplace environment, and our outlook on life. Becoming self-aware of what affects us, managing how we respond to triggers and using tools to help us work through them, are all part of our journey towards MENTAL FITNESS, which is how we should be positively defining it.
Thrive Editor's Letter |
Editor’s Welcome
Welcome to the fifth edition of Thrive magazine. Too often the narrative around business focuses on success and, in my view, we forget to talk about failure. That’s why we lead this edition with EPIC FAILS by Katie Buller—because understanding what doesn’t work is just as important as what does.
We all have bad days, right? In business, that can mean we don’t bring our A-game to work and perhaps our service slips. Maybe a dish takes too long to reach a table or a staff member sounds distracted at the till. This could lead to negative Google Reviews or on ‘that’ Facebook group that […]