For Your Business
© rudall30 / stock.adobe.com
Under the surface
A look at lesser-known qualities of effective business leadership
by AYESHAH ABUELHIGA
Effective business leaders must develop key skills that go beyond familiar management responsibilities. Just as important to strategic planning, hiring and tending to the company’s financial health, are roles such as coach, motivator and mentor. Instead of “chief executive officer,” CEO should stand for “chief engagement officer,” as CEOs connect with shareholders, customers, employees, their board, the media and others. To succeed in today’s business world, leaders should learn the following five skills:
Culture building. Good companies foster open and transparent leadership, which develops trust and strong team relationship dynamics. It is also important for leaders to live by their words through consistent emphasis on their company’s cultural values and core purpose.
Being a spokesperson. Today’s leaders must train to be great public speakers. Strong communication skills can help inspire trust, compassion, stability and hope, which are critical to achieving teammate buy-in, as well as customer admiration and loyalty.
Building universal accountability. Leaders often focus on building accountability in their teams, but do not realize they should also hold their external stakeholders accountable. If a company values diversity, equity and inclusion, for example, the leader must be a vocal advocate of the company’s adherence to uphold it. At the board level, it’s about engaging a diverse membership to help steer the company’s policies and initiatives.
Being a mission-driven leader. Customers and employees are increasingly looking for businesses with a mission they believe in. Mission-driven leaders must nurture the vision behind the mission and spread it to team members, and always keep in mind why customers support the business. To do this, leaders must constantly provide team members with opportunities to learn about the mission and discuss ways to implement it as a part of one’s everyday life.
Digital leadership. Many leaders must manage the shift to remote working as a new normal. To do this, they must create small, highly empowered teams; provide real-time decisions and support; and build a collective, transparent and deeply shared culture. Adept leaders continually reinforce the company’s culture and communicate the company’s values.
One-on-one time
Take the time to frequently schedule in-person one-on-one time with your team members. A leader’s schedule is ever-changing and often full, which can signal that you are too busy doing “more important” things. Scheduling in-person one-on-ones with your team members helps strengthen your bond and respect for them both professionally and personally. It reinforces a culture of openness and gives team members the assurance that their efforts are seen.—AA
MASON DIXIE FOODS
Ayeshah Abuelhiga is the founder and CEO of Baltimore-based Mason Dixie Foods, which specializes in baked goods and snacks.
Costco Connection: Costco offers a variety of essentials for small businesses, from products to services, at a great value. Learn more at Costco.com under “Services” at the top of the page.
