Marcia's Leadership Q and As: How can I learn to be a leader?

Q. I started a business a few years ago and love the work, but I’m not good at managing people. What shall I do?

A. Being a business owner or having an executive title doesn’t equate with success. Managing an organization and leading people are two integrated skills, and they don’t just happen when a person has a title or role.

Having a great job being a mechanic, finance director, teacher or cashier doesn’t mean you have the knowledge and skills to run an organization. Great leaders are dedicated to continual learning about how to improve themselves and their organization. They don’t rest on the laurels of a title or think because they got the job, they know it all.

People who grow a successful business dedicate themselves to intensive learning to attain the necessary and ever-changing business skills. They also ask, “How can I lead my people better?” That requires leadership knowledge that is both foundational and constantly transforming.

Some people seek executive positions to add titles to their resume or build their own ego. But do they serve customers (or are they an after-thought?) Do they develop their staff into productive, collaborative teams obsessed with delivering a great experience to customers?

Leadership is not easy, but when fundamental values and behaviors are in place, it is easier: respect, trust, two-way communication, collaborative decision-making, inclusivity, and transparency.