Leadership Lessons
Here is a portion of recent paper I wrote after completing an MBA class:
I gained a TON out of my Values-Driven Leadership class. I think that this course was extremely valuable to experience at such a young time in my company. In light of this fact, I've decided to summarize my top 10 takeaways from the class. In no particular order:
1. Work yourself out of a job. I have heard this philosophy before; however, I think that this is likely the most important takeaway for me. In my role as CEO, it is important for me to continually make sure that the company and all employees are completely on track and moving together towards the values and goals of the company. Upon returning, I discussed my role with my other two full-time employees. We decided to hire someone to remove the specific sales role from my list of daily tasks. We have a highly qualified salesman who recently started. Additionally, I have more thoroughly defined tasks and roles for our other employees. This will allow me to focus on building the internal and external company image.
2. What's important? Measure it, throw the rest away, reward and incentivize those who strive to improve corporate efficiency. I particularly enjoyed our GE case discussion about how Jack Welch was able to reduce the wasted time and bureaucracy in a company the size of GE.
3. Don't accept change; drive and encourage constant change. I really love this motto. Innovation is one of four core values for my company. Driving change and encouraging new ways of looking at and doing business will continue to allow my organization to be nimble in these difficult times.
4. Align employees' incentives with your corporation values. I began by creating a unique incentive plan for our new salesman. Additionally, I sat down with our Warehouse Manager to determine what motivates him and how he sees his role in our company. I particularly gained knowledge with our discussion of the GE case, Vroom's Expectancy Theory, Adam's Equity Theory, and alternative ways to enhance motivation.
5. Best leaders develop those around them to be leaders. I will be sitting down with all of my employees to set goals for them and discuss ways that I can facilitate and assist them in reaching those goals. I want to encourage competitive spirit but drive a balance with teamwork.
6. Develop a pattern of honest and open communication. I really enjoyed the mock performance evaluation exercise. However, I gained a lot more in the discussion immediately following. After the discussion, I realized that losing trust in an employee could be far more damaging that discussing a situation and getting something difficult out in the open.
7. Networking begins by offering assistance to someone else. Networking is now my main role as CEO. I'm working to add trusted valuable people to my network by seeking out those that I can assist with the obvious hope that "what goes around will come around."
8. Leaders are few, take opportunities to step up to take on leadership opportunities. This is a point that I wish I would have realized earlier in life, like middle or high school. I'm now focused on making sure that not only I but all those in my company focus on being the leaders needed to make our community a better place.
9. Judgment should always overpower policy. What a powerful lesson this is. Being at such a new time in my company, it is a time for setting policies in place. It is important for me to incorporate judgment into these policies. Additionally, I will look to empower my employees to see judgment as something that can overpower policy.
10. Do not waste time on those who will not align with the values and goals of your organization. It is difficult to admit making a mistake about a hire, eat the loss associated with training someone and then let that person go; however, it is like a cancer to let them remain in a place in the company when they do not align.
