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11 Keys to Leadership

In today’s marketplace, leading a company to success can be difficult. A stagnant economy, increased unemployment rates, and unpredictable market changes make many executives uncertain of what to do.

“During such times, many senior leaders spend countless hours on ways to cut costs or jump-start revenues,” says Joanne Sujansky, CEO of KEYGROUP, a Pittsburgh-based consulting and training services company. “What they fail to realize is that if they don’t have the necessary leadership skills to run their business and to implement the changes correctly, those countless hours will have been wasted.”

Sujansky offers the following advice for today’s leaders:

1. STAND BY YOUR TEAM
   “People need to know you’re in their corner,” says Sujansky. “Support equals motivation. If they know they have your support, they will feel more motivated to do their jobs well.”
2. CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS
   “Take the time to get to know your team members,” she says. “Meet with them one-on-one with no interruptions – you’ll be amazed at what you find out. When people know you care, they will be more inclined to work harder.”
3. ACKNOWLEDGE A JOB WELL DONE
   Sujansky says it’s important to let people know they make a difference. “When people hear a compliment they are more apt to repeat the behaviours that got them the compliment in the first place,” she says.
4. SET SPECIFIC, CHALLENGING, YET ATTAINABLE OUTCOMES FOR TEAM MEMBERS
   “When you set specific goals from the beginning, you can avoid unnecessary surprises in the end,” she says. “It allows your team to more easily check their progress and ensures that they know what your expectations are.”
5. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
   “People want to know what you stand for, and they want to see that your values and beliefs guide you,” she says. “Your team will learn more from what they see you do than from what you tell them.”
6. KILL THE GRAPEVINE
   Rumours can wreak havoc on an organization. “The key is to squelch rumours before they begin to spread, and you can do this by simply keeping your team informed,” she says. “If everyone knows exactly what is going on, the chances for rumours to arise will decrease dramatically.”
7. NETWORK
   "Attend community events and industry conferences,” she says. “You may think it’s difficult to find good talent, but it is out there. It’s just a matter of looking in all kinds of places.”
8. IF YOU SEE A PROBLEM, FIX IT
   “Whether it’s a process, a way of thinking, or a machine, if it is not working properly, fix it as soon as possible,” she says.
9. DO IT NOW
   “Take a good, long look at your priorities,” she says. “Many of the tasks and chores that dominate our time are urgent, but not necessarily important. Don’t let the urgent drive out the important.”
10. SCHEDULE TIME FOR READING TRADE JOURNALS, BUSINESS BRIEFS, NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS
    “As a leader, your team should see you as a resource,” says Sujansky. “When you are informed, you can provide valuable information that will help them accomplish their goals. The more informed you are, the more informed your employees will be.”
11. BE MORE, NOT LESS, AVAILABLE IN TIMES OF CHANGE
    “When your organization is going through a change, you should limit meetings and other commitments that may take you away from your team,” she says. “People need you most during these times. When they have questions, you need to be there with an answer.”

This article may be reprinted for your use in an organizational newsletter and or e-zine provided that you contact Kelly Hanna, Director of Sales and Marketing at 724-942-7900 to gain permission.