As a small business owner, you likely have a team by your side. Being the best version of yourself is essential - not just as an entrepreneur, but also as a person and ultimately, as a leader. As you find new ways to adapt and improve your business, becoming a better boss for your team can be a game changer that benefits everyone! While you're already focused on improving your team management skills, we'll give you some strategies for celebrating National Boss Day!
Here are four non-traditional ways to level up your leadership qualities.
1. Adopt a "no-technology" day
In this modern age, where we're always connected to technology, it's all too easy to get lost in screens and forget the value of real life interactions. Taking a day away from emails, messages and video calls to solely focus on your business, team and clients in a physical space can be much more rewarding. You'll be amazed at how much you can reconnect on a human level and engage more deeply with your thoughts.
Those uninterrupted moments of conversation can lead to insights and breakthroughs that virtual meetings often miss. Plus, without the constant pinging noises of notifications, you'll concentrate better. Use this time for strategizing and brainstorming! It's going to feel incredibly refreshing and not to mention, you'll avoid that pesky eye strain too.
Experiment with different durations for your tech-free time. Whether it's an hour each day or a full day each week, find what works best for your schedule. Just carve out that time whenever you can and see the difference yourself.
Remember, the key is to shift the focus away from screens and onto face-to- face interactions. Since you are representing your business, these personal connections can strengthen relationships and build that team synergy.
2. Explore role reversal amongst your team
As a leader, you have your own responsibilities and your team members have theirs. Over time, both sides may lose sight of what the other does. You can imagine the misunderstandings about this when collaborating. Imagine freshening up that perspective by having team members temporarily step into each other's roles. This can mean either a small role swap or a shadowing opportunity. This experience helps them understand the different challenges each person faces, allowing them to better support one another in the future.
This role-switching can be a simple part of their day, where team members shadow one another. You can also learn about each other's daily tasks or invite them to join you in your own work. When you encourage your team to view different lenses, you open the door to new creativity and collaboration that probably wouldn't have happened otherwise. It's a nice and beneficial twist to the average workday!
Arrange for your team to observe each other's tasks for a few hours or half a day to gain some insight. A team that knows each other works better together.
Recognize that some tasks may be too complex or require specialized knowledge. When planning, ensure the tasks are appropriate and focus on areas where your team members can easily learn and contribute during the reversal.
3. Embrace a "failure first" mindset
You may wonder what does the "failure first" mindset actually mean. Instead of fearing mistakes, you can begin to see setbacks as valuable learning opportunities. It gives you the power to reflect openly on what went wrong and how you can improve for next time. By normalizing failure in your own experience, you remove the stigma and empower yourself to take risks without the fear of losing or judgment.
When you lead with this mindset, you'll find that your business will grow in unexpected ways as you'll become more innovative. Your team may also embrace your way of thinking, cultivating a culture of constant improvement in the team. It's just that switch in your brain that helps you stay proactive in problem solving. By making failure a stepping stone to success, you won't be scared to make a mistake anymore. Without failure, there's no growth!
Don't hesitate to share your own failures. By opening up about past mistakes, you create a safe space for discussion and encourage others to share their experiences. It's almost impossible not to feel bonded with your team with genuine vulnerability.
Equally important is celebrating efforts, not just outcomes. So acknowledge the hard work behind a project, even if the results aren't what you hoped for. That's ultimately what truly matters, and you'll begin to understand how to be better next time.
4. Create a leadership vision board
Your mind is powerful, there's no doubt about that. You have ideas and goals that are clear in your mind. However, when they stay there, they lack direction and inspiration. A leadership-focused vision board serves as a visual representation of what you want to achieve as a leader and entrepreneur. It's a space where you can curate images, quotes and goals that resonate with you, providing a tangible reminder of your vision to reference regularly.
As you create your vision board, think about the qualities you want to cultivate in yourself and your leadership style - such as empathy, transparency, or decisiveness. This process not only helps you stay locked in with your goals, but encourages you to dream big and think ahead. Put everything you envision on the board! Additionally, sharing your vision board with your team can bring up important conversations about collective goals. Let them know about what you're trying to achieve for the future and they'll reciprocate.
You can start with a physical board by using a poster board, pegboard, or even a whiteboard. If you'd like to create a digital version, you can use Canva or take inspiration from Pinterest.
There is no right or wrong way to do this! Design and arrange your materials on the board in a way that feels meaningful to you. As long as it reflects your goals and values, that's all that matters.
At the end of the day, your team will follow your lead and listen to your words. The power of what you say can boost their morale and instill a sense of purpose and importance in their work. It's the little things that matter. When your team understands your vision and values for the business, they are more likely to invest their time and energy with passion. As Simon Sinek, a renowned motivational speaker known for his insights on leadership, has said, "Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge."
Learn to encourage your team everyday with these simple tips. Check out our blog here.
Author: Gary Wong
How do you manage your team?
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Michigan, and is a proud member of People First Economy and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. We help businesses thrive. By improving our client's sales over 60%, reducing their expenses and boosting their engagement by 40% or more, we enable our clients to refocus on what they love.
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