Workplace

My friend Robin recently talked to me about her opportunity to become president of a large nonprofit organization. As we discussed her leadership strengths, I realized the qualities Robin possesses to lead the organization are the same characteristics needed to run a roofing company.

The principles of leadership include the ability to communicate wisely; attract employees who share your values; envision the type of business you want; and empower those around you.

Communicate wisely

In Get Everyone in Your Boat Rowing in the Same Direction, Bob Boylan writes about two stonecutters who are chipping square blocks out of granite.

Boylan writes, "A visitor to the quarry asked what they were doing. The first stonecutter, looking sour, grumbled, 'I'm cutting this damned stone into a block.' The second, who looked pleased with his work, replied proudly, 'I'm on this team that's building a cathedral.'"

If this fictitious granite business were your roofing company, what would be the attitude of your "stone cutters"? Do you inspire your team? Do you lead in a way that allows everyone to understand your company's vision and buy into it?

As a leader, you have to be able to define your company. Your organization, whether you employ two people or 20, needs to know what your company looks like, what it wants to accomplish and how it is going to get there.

In addition, how you communicate is of utmost importance. Some of your behaviors are positive; some are negative. The trick is to become aware of how you contribute to a positive or negative communication climate. For example, do you get distracted as you listen to others? Do you have good eye contact? Do you smile? Do you get preoccupied? Do you slouch? Do you act defensively?

Attract employees

For Robin to be an effective president, she must assemble an effective board of directors with people who share her values. The same principle applies to you as the leader of your company.

At the very least, follow the advice of Jack Foster, who writes in his book Ideaship—How to Get Ideas Flowing in your Workplace, "If you don't think you could drive across the country with them in a Volkswagen Beetle, don't hire them."

Visualize what you want

"The leader's job is to create a vision," according to James Kouzes and Barry Posner in The Leadership Challenge.

One way to formulate a vision of the type of business you want is to complete the following exercise. Ask yourself, "What exciting and realistic picture do I see for my company in three years?" Describe your business with these factors in mind: gross income, net income, number of employees, amount of office space, location of your office(s), what your success is based on, what you will be known for, what position you will occupy in the roofing industry and why people will want to work for you.

Share this message with your employees—it can help you formulate your story and manage your company.

Empower others

If you want your employees to simply show up, pay them their salary. If you want your team to help build your company, empower them. You can empower and motivate your employees by appreciating what they do. Some of the greatest recognition and reward strategies cost nothing but your time and interest. In addition, include your team when possible when making company policy decisions so employees feel like they're "in" on things. People support what they help create.

Effective leadership

According to Boylan, to be an effective leader, it is important you define what the benefits are to your team; care about the people you work with; praise their efforts; and weed out the nonbelievers. They are not wrong if they disagree with you; they just are going in a different direction. Finally, communicate and listen. This will help you run your company smoothly and gain your employees' respect.

Karen Cortell Reisman owns a company called Speak For Yourself,® Dallas, and is author of The Naked Truth about Giving Great Speeches.