Look at the top businesses in the world. Leadership is the number one reason for their success. This applies to all businesses, even solopreneurs.
Knowing what makes a good leader is important for both you and those who work under you.
Paula Jenkins, the founder and CEO at LFS Consultancy and Small Biz In :15, discusses how to achieve good leadership traits.
The following is an edited version of the transcript from the most recent episode of Small Biz In :15. The full interview can be viewed in the player above.
What is the best kind of leader?
Jenkins: “The best leaders are those who raise their hands and ask for help. Please let me repeat that. Leaders who ask for help and raise their hands are the best leaders.
Some of us take a bit longer than others to accomplish this. It’s hard for me to believe that. The moment you realize that the help you receive is actually helping you, your business will change. It’s difficult.
What Does this Mean for Small Businesses?
Shawn Hessinger says that many small business owners and solopreneurs don’t consider themselves leaders, because they are experts in their field. Why is leadership so important for small businesses? Why is it so important to you that you think about this first?
Paula Jenkins: It’s a good question, but we don’t ask it very often. We don’t know the connection between our business and our success. The leadership piece is about how you run your business. It’s also how you manage your finances. We often think of leadership as being a person. It’s not a person, but a team or group.
Leadership is how you manage your business, your brand and your product. This leadership piece is crucial because you want to ensure that you are showing up in a manner that will sustain and grow your company.
It doesn’t matter if you have a group or not. It’s important to understand that the way you lead and how you present yourself is what matters. It doesn’t matter how big the company is, it only matters that you show up.