How important is your role as a leader? Consider this: a three-dimensional pyramid has four points–three points on the bottom and one point at the top. You are the fourth point at the top of the pyramid. With you, your team goes from being two-dimensional to three-dimensional. We’ve put together a short list of values you can embrace to help you become the pinnacle of leadership at your store.
Be Honest With Yourself
It is important to be honest with others as well as with yourself. Do you ever feel like you’re too involved in the nitty-gritty of day-to-day operations? You very well could be, and it’s probably hurting your business. When this happens, you can’t perceive the big picture because you’re concentrating on too many small details. You can’t see the forest for the trees. You’re in too close. Only when you step back and observe from a distance will you be able to see the forest as a whole.
Things to consider: Are you a micro-manager? If not, that’s great! Keep in mind, however, that absence in excess allows problems to pile up quickly. Find your balance.
Be Resilient
Unfortunately there is no way to know what’s just around the corner. It could be a pot of gold or a pitfall—you never know. All life on Earth is faced with the challenge of either adapting or dying, and you’re not exempt. Be resilient; develop the capacity to absorb energy from disruption. After all, it takes chaos to give birth to a star.
Things to consider: How do you handle adversity or a bad day? Do your employees warn others when you are in a bad mood? Do they avoid you?
Be Rebellious
Look, we’ve been saying it for years: SAME IS LAME®! Did you get to where you are by memorizing the rulebook? We didn’t think so. The greatest innovators walk a fine line between babbling and brilliance. It’s up to you to balance the two. We’re not saying you should break the rules—we’re just saying that you can’t break a rule that hasn’t been written yet. Catch our drift?
Things to consider: Do you think you know it all? You don’t. Are you closed off to new ideas? Maybe. Do you question things or is everyday on auto-play when it comes to decision-making?
Be Available
This one’s short, but sweet. Don’t create an atmosphere in which your employees are afraid to ask you for help. Designate time in your office to embrace an open door policy. It is important that both you and your employees respect that time. Make an announcement or have a sign to put up as it is approaching and when it begins.
Things to consider: Would I feel comfortable asking myself for help? Am I hard to catch on a daily basis?
The human tendency to regard the little things as important has produced very many great things. Focus on these four, and there’s no telling what kind of transformation you could bring to your business.