Being a project manager, entrepreneur, or small business owner isn’t always about delegating tasks; managing responsibilities, personnel, and talent; and overseeing the daily functions and facets of the business. Of course these are all important aspects to operating and managing a small business, however, they aren’t the only things a project manager or entrepreneur has to be concerned about.
Since you are a project manager, entrepreneur, or small business owner, or maybe a combination of all three, you know that you are also a leader. A true and respectable leader has a number of followers and represents a team, and encourages that team to succeed in their individual as well as their team goals.
So why does your team follow you? Here is a breakdown of what project managers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners should be doing to effectively lead a team:
Energy. One of personality elements that is contagious and causes people to follow you is energy. The energy, positive attitude, and motivation you display and preach to your team will no doubt cause others to follow you. Team members want to work in a team where they feel comfortable, encouraged, and work with a team leader or project manager that is energetic and positive. A positive attitude is easy to follow and is easy to catch on with.
No one wants to work with someone who is negative, complains, or is easily frustrated with projects and assignments. This drives a huge wedge between communication, and ultimately leads to the break down of a team and overall productivity.
Creativity. Creativity can apply to many facets of a project, problem-solving, and even leading a team. The ability to think outside the box is a huge asset for any small business and team. The ability to think differently and creatively is also a contagious element that is missing from many teams.
Project managers know that creative problem-solving is a huge asset in the realm of project management as well. Experienced project managers and team leaders encourage team members to try and creatively solve a problem in a project that m ay come up before alerting a team leader or asking for help. This isn’t a way to brush off team members or make them feel like you don’t care, it’s more about allowing them to be the intelligent project managers and team members they are and think creatively about solving a problem. They will thank you for it…
Commitment. Committing to leadership over the long-term is a huge decision. However, if team members see that you are committed to them, and if executive level management members and the organization as a whole see that you are committed, then you will no doubt reap the benefits. For those entrepreneurs and small business owners who do not report to executive level members, you can still reap the benefits by committing to being a long-term leader. Your business will no doubt grow, prosper, and thrive, as this attribute is certainly visible to your customer base.