How to produce another leader who can produce another leader

It may come as no surprise, but running your business will take everything you’ve got to make it successful. Even your best planning can be thrown into the wind sometimes. As a good business person you need to be fast to react to problems. You need to be ready to address issues head on. Don't wait for help that may come too late. There will be times that you will have to adjust your plans to meet changing conditions. Decisions may have to be made quickly and without all the information you might like to have. Sometimes you will have to be creative to make sure your business gets the attention it needs.

In the current economic situation you should think out of the box because the world is moving so fast in various sectors. What was thought to be a strength in the past may not be so now. In the case of Japan, things like a long life (expectancy), lifetime employment, consensus building and seniority were all thought to be strengths. But in this fast changing world you have to adapt quickly to the outside world. Therefore, a leader has to be reformist, to be agile and not be dogmatic so that your business can adjust.

Use my 10 point list as a review tool for yourself as the 'champion' in your business. If your competitors are doing all these things then you definitely can't afford to overlook this

1. Lead By Example.

One of the best ways to lead is by example – pitching in where needed, lending a helping hand, and making sure that the work you do is clearly understood by your team. You are not a leader until you have produced another leader who can produce another leader.

2. Passion.

A leader without passion isn’t a leader. He’s a paper pusher. Or a taskmaster. Passion drives a lot, and you can inspire so much in others through your own passion and enthusiasm. That doesn’t mean you have to be constantly cheery, it means you’ve got to believe in what you’re doing and what your company is doing.

3. Be Organised.

A disorganised leader isn’t leading, they are chasing their own tail. Disorganisation breeds nothing but more disorganisation. If you’re frazzled and messy, your team will be too. When you’re organised you’ll be much more productive and so will everyone else.

4. Delegate.

You can’t do everything. A great leader needs to be able to delegate effectively. The key to delegating successfully is giving employees ownership of the work you assign them. They can’t just feel like they own the work, they really have to.

5. Take Ownership and Responsibility.

Although you’ve just delegated work and truly given your team ownership, you also have to take ownership and responsibility at all times. Your team has to know you’ll be there for them through the good and the bad times. That doesn’t mean you absolve people from making mistakes or ignore crappy work/effort, but it does mean you take responsibility for the big picture.​

6. Communicate Effectively.

It’s critical that you communicate to employees how their work matters in the bigger picture. Are they a cog, or does their work truly make a difference? People need affirmation. They want to know they did a good job. You just have to tell them. Be precise, specific and concise.

7. Be Brave and Honest.

Cowardly leaders will shy away from any number of situations that crop up regularly when running a team. Tell it like it is. You have to learn how to present things to your team in an honest but balanced manner.

8. Be a Great Listener.

A huge part of being a great communicator is being a great listener. If all you want to do is talk, you’re not a leader. Keeping people motivated means listening to them, asking them questions, understanding their issues. When you listen more, you can respond more effectively and get to the heart of things much faster.

9. Know Your People.

You have to know your people. You don’t have to be best friends or even socialize outside work, but you do have to know what makes them tick. You need to know something about their personal lives because their lives outside work matter. Their lives outside work drive a great deal of their success (or lack of) at work. Keep track of simple things: birthdays, marriages, children, etc. The more you know your people the more common ground you’re likely to find, the more you’ll be able to connect.

10. Be a Follower.

If you’re a leader without following, you’re a dictator. And as fun as that sounds. Being a leader - follower means finding value in your team, getting inspired by your team, encouraging your team to communicate, brainstorm and be open.

Gary says "I can talk the talk here but behind closed doors I actually walk it. Try and evaluate yourself, what additional skills do you need to run your business. Having a business consultant like me, coming in to facilitate leadership improvement is a great way to boost the vitality of your business. Mind Ur Bisnis - The Business Minder in Asia here to help you."