Does Your Small Business Buy Into the Leadership Myth?

Team building at it's best, is a process of building a system that works that facilitates the way your team works.

As a business owner it is probably more important to maximize your profits while minimizing the amount of time you spend at work than it is for you to be known as a great manager.

Do People Put Too Much Faith in Being Led?

And let's not kid ourselves, the people you're trying to lead are not always the cream-of-the-crop. They make excuses for why they can't do something much easier that they say they can.

No matter how charismatic, people can't change peoples' basic nature.

Sure some people can be manipulated or cajoled to follow, but inspiration fades, and then what?

You're left with the same uninspired and lifeless team you had before.

You're Saying It's Useless?

I'm not trying to say leadership is useless

Simply that the role of great managers in your business is overrated. So what can we do to build and lead a team that works?

Systems allow people to easily follow and a formula for success, charismatic people cannot be easily duplicated.

It makes sense to put your time, energy and money into developing the systems that make success on your team to solve problems, make more money, have more time off, and less stress while they're at work. But it's the rare company that actually simplifies their operations to this level.

And "the Boss" Isn't Making Life Any Easier

If you are a manager you understand the frustration of trying to be all things to all people. People want your time and opinions. People want the "answer" to the multitude of question that run through their mind.

People want you to do their jobs for them, or at least ask you how.

The problem with leadership, as you know it, is that when you're not the manager ultimately, as long as you're doing your assigned duties, your not responsible when the sh!t hits the fan.

You have to decide whether you're going to build your team around a bunch of folks who rely on someone to "lead" them, or are you going to put the systems in place for people to lead themselves?

For peace of mind I choose the latter. What about you?

I choose to run my business based on maximizing profit and minimizing the amount of time I spend working. If people choose to look at me as a good manager because of the systems I have in place, all the better.

Focus on Paying the Bills

But, being known as a "great manager" won't pay the light bill.

Dan Kennedy, the original Renegade Marketer looks at leadership with a jaded eye as well.

He says business owners have an imperative to lead, manage, and supervise their workplace based on one thing. . .

. . . profit.

You must establish a workplace that is a "productivity only" environment.

You do this by weeding out the slackers, boneheads, and untrustworthy folks. While recruiting, training, and retaining the exceptional employees and team members.

By leading by example, and following the "system" you have in place, you set the "tone of leadership" in your workplace.

Building a team of natural production and performance oriented people, you rely less on leadership to motivate others, and simply build a team of individuals who can think and act for themselves.