Business & Personal Finance

How to lead at work

For an organization to function well and be successful it needs both good leaders and good followers.  What that means is that throughout the course of the day all of us move between leading and following while at work.   August Turak, contributing writer to Forbes.com, recently wrote an article about how you, as a follower, can make your mark by being a great leader.  Here are a few ways he suggests that you can lead and get ahead at work:

1. Leaders need followers to bring fresh ideas to their jobs.  By telling your boss "This is what I think we should do" you will really stand out.

2.  Create your own job by identifying a goal that you can achieve in a short amount of time.  Write up the plan for achieving that goal and keep a weekly progress report.  Present the plan before your boss asks for it thus proving that you can lead yourself.

3.  Great followers are always one step ahead of their bosses. Try to anticipate what your boss wants next and get it done.

4.  Don't wait for your boss to ask you for a status report .  Always communicate new developments to your boss in writing to preempt worries or concerns.

5.  Use future goals to prioritize today's activities.  This will allow your boss to focus on his/her work and not spend valuable time supervising you.

6.  Earn your bosses trust by delivering on every commitment no matter how trivial.

7.  Whenever possible try to make your boss "look good".  Back him/her up even if you disagree in private. By presenting a united front once a decision has been made you will be much more appreciated.

8. Be sympathetic to the enormous pressures your boss endures. Compassion and empathy will reassure your boss that you understand and will try to help alleviate the "pain".

Here are a few books to help you lead and get ahead at work:

 

 

Leadership in their own words

In her book Impatient Optimist, a book of quotes by founder and former CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates, Lisa Rogak draws on numerous interviews that Mr. Gates has given over the years, breaking them down under various subject headings.  The result is a picture of a man who founded a company that changed the way we do practically everything. A few examples:

On creativity: "We tell people that if no one laughs at at least one of their ideas, they're probably not being creative enough."

On his work habits: "I'm not big on to do lists."

On success: "Success is a lousy teacher.  It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose."

 

In Theodore Roosevelt, CEO by Alan Axelrod, over 130 leadership "lessons" are given using 7 basic principles that the 26th President of the United States followed.  These principles include:  Lead the:  Strenuous Life, the Learning Life, the Teaching Life, the Innovative Life, Executive Life, Political Life, the Steward's Life. Each lesson is prefaced with a quote by the great TR himself.  Some examples:

Lesson 28 - Listen Actively.  "I need your advice and counsel" - At his first cabinet meeting  in 1901 after becoming president after the death of William McKinley.

Lesson 52 - Originate.  "It is always better to be an original than an imitation" -  He took care to use the word "an" in his statement meaning to be an original is to be a leader.

 

Want to read more words of inspiration from great leaders?  Why not try the following titles:

 

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."
Steve Jobs

 

"As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others."
Bill Gates

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a vacation - please.

If you are an owner of a small business, you know that it seems like it is next to impossible to actually take a vacation. Being the person central to the success or failure of a business comes with a lot of responsibility. 

Interestingly enough, you would think if you work for a large company, it would be a no brainer to take time off, but even people in those organizations find it hard to make the break. Many people believe that they are indispensable and can not be gone for a period of time. If people in large businesses feel that way, what chance does a small business person have to get some time off?

Each year, articles pop up around this topic. The latest article from Canadian Business re-enforces the benefits of taking some time off. The main risk - burn out, both physical and emotional.  And with mobile technology and the internet, the temptation is always there to sneak a peek at e-mail to see what is going on without you there.

So what is a small business owner to do? Try some of these options suggested in Susan Ward's article "How to have a worry-free vacation"

• Close shop.  Have everyone who works for you take a holiday at the same time you do.
• Take your business with you.  With mobile technology, you are only a phone call or e-mail away from solving any problems that might arise.
• Have a good second in command, that you can train and trust to run your business while you are away.

Can taking a vacation actually improve how you do business?  Yes according to Jessica Stillman in her article from Inc entitled "Make your vacations good for business" .  It can force you to be more organized, working more efficiently and delegating responsiblity.  And remember a vacation doesn't have to mean that you go half way around the world to get a break from your business, or be gone for an extended period of time.  Who knows? While relaxing, you might come up with the next great idea for your company. 

Check out some of the numbers given in The Small Business Owners Guide to Taking a Vacation. It includes some interesting tips and statistics on how small businesses take time off.

Enjoy your holiday!

 

 

Playing nice at work

 Let's face it, we've all had to work with people we just can't along with but, take comfort, you are not alone.  We don't live in a perfect world so office politics is something all of us will need to deal with at one time or another. According to Vicky Oliver, author of Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots, things such as dealing with targets, deadlines, responsibility, pressure and other work-related stresses can strip away the veneer of gentility and make our bosses, colleagues and underlings snap at the most minor provocation.

So is there a secret to getting along with everyone? The best way to deal with these problems, says Oliver, is to not take anything personally. Try to rise above what you perceived to be an insult but was actually a joke. Congratulate a rival for being promoted over you.  Forgive a co-worker that went behind your back to consult with your supervisor. Another way to deal with office politics is to accept the fact that people are flawed. You can ignore these flaws or try to deal with them in some way.  You, too, will need to learn how to accept criticism by being brutally honest with yourself.  If you become less sensitive to the criticisms of others perhaps you will become more sensitive in the way you deliver criticism.

Before considering  leaving your job because your coworkers are driving you crazy, take a look at some of these helpful books: