Whether you have one employee or many, when you own a small business, knowing how to lead your team is an important part of finding success. Even experienced business owners can benefit from expanding their knowledge and improving their leadership skills. If you’re looking for better ways to lead your team, the following tips may help you better yourself as a leader, which can improve your team’s morale and increase their productivity.
Improve your communication
Communicating with your team ensures that everyone knows your expectations. Whether you communicate in person, by email, or by text, your employees must be on the same page when it comes to daily operations. Remember, however, that communication must go both ways. Be open to suggestions and opinions from your team.
Work on your assertiveness
Small business owners, especially those who are new to being in charge, often struggle with finding a balance when it comes to assertiveness. You want your team to respect you, but it’s also important that you don’t become a difficult boss with unattainable expectations. Be open to feedback and try to look at situations from your employee’s viewpoints. You can be professional and still have a good working relationship with your employees based on mutual respect.
Delegate appropriately
You have employees for a reason, so it’s important to allow them to do their jobs. As the owner, you are the main decision maker, but that doesn’t mean you must be involved in every little detail of operations. If you choose your team wisely, you should feel comfortable delegating the tasks that they are trained to do. Delegation allows you to focus on your role as owner while your team tackles everything else.
Small business ownership can be rewarding. But leading others comes with challenges, especially if you’re not accustomed to being in charge. Take some time to improve your leadership skills. Focus on communication, assertiveness, and delegation as these three elements are key to running a successful small business.
