Quick Success Tips...

For Business Owners & Managers

To be a successful manager in today’s world can prove to be a challenge. Even tougher is balancing the role of business owner with that of business manager. The two titles, though seemingly related, can have very different duties, as well as different meaning to your employees. Owners sometimes are seen as figure heads, while managers represent discipline and structure. To successfully meld the two together can be a daunting task to many small business owners.

Here are some tips for the small business owner who also wears the manager hat:

1.) Your Employees are Your Number One Asset: This is the most important and sometimes the most overlooked aspect of management. You will only be as successful as the people who work for you. As a manager, it is your responsibility to lead your subordinates where you want them to go, and then praise them when they get there. Employee moral is the number one success tactic in today's world.

2.) Look at the Big Picture and Communicate It: As an owner or manager, you often have a solid view of where the company or business is going, or where you want it to go. It is important to communicate the company's goals and direction to all employees. This will assure that everyone is heading in the right direction and not down their own path.

3.) Do as I do, not as I say: That may sound backwards to some people, but it's true whether you accept it or not. Many times, managers expect employees to do what they say and ignore what they see. This is like watching a movie where the sound doesn't match up with the picture. Be consistent. If your employees know what they can expect from you, they will make better decisions.

4.) When It Comes to Decisions, Be Decisive: Common sense? Yes, but many managers fret over their impending decisions and procrastinate. Inaction is no action and produces no results. This is not to say you should make bad decisions or rush into one. Just don't promote inefficiency or your employees will quit coming to you with their problems.

5.) Realign Business Goals or Standards as Needed: Take the time to look at the decisions you've made and how they've affected the company. Make appropriate changes in management style, if necessary. Also, periodically re-evaluate your business goals and adjust accordingly. Don't forget to let employees in on the changes.

Although the above guidelines are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to management, following the above tips can help keep you focused on where your company is going. Now more than ever, good leadership is an important and fundamental aspect of any successful company out there.

By Kristie Leong

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