20 Steps to Successful 20 Steps to Successful LeadershipLeadership

Frank Besednjak

The Training Source, Inc. “Great Ideas for Great People”

*Some Concepts & Ideas from

“10 Steps to Be a Successful Manager”

by Lisa Haneberg & “Lead Right” by Steve Ventura

But First . . . .But First . . . .Audit Audit YourYour CompanyCompany

Here are some signs of an ailing Here are some signs of an ailing workplace. How many do you find workplace. How many do you find

in your company?in your company? ► People aren’t very excited about their People aren’t very excited about their

workwork► People feel very negativePeople feel very negative► People only do what they are supposed People only do what they are supposed

to doto do► Nobody ever says what is on their mindNobody ever says what is on their mind► People are suspiciousPeople are suspicious► People aren’t willing to help each otherPeople aren’t willing to help each other► People keep ideas to themselvesPeople keep ideas to themselves► People think they don’t matterPeople think they don’t matter

Here are some signs of quality Here are some signs of quality workplace. How many do you find workplace. How many do you find

in your company?in your company? ► People are excited about their workPeople are excited about their work► People feel positivePeople feel positive► People try do more than what is expectedPeople try do more than what is expected► People regularly provide input and ideasPeople regularly provide input and ideas► People trust each otherPeople trust each other► People always help each otherPeople always help each other► People take initiativePeople take initiative► People take responsibility for their resultsPeople take responsibility for their results

►Okay . . . Let’s see what we Okay . . . Let’s see what we can do about it . . . can do about it . . . 20 20 Steps to Successful Steps to Successful LeadershipLeadership

1. Clarify and Communicate 1. Clarify and Communicate their Role and Yourstheir Role and Yours

► What do people expect from you?What do people expect from you?► Execute great moments of leadershipExecute great moments of leadership

Stand by your employees’ decisions when they Stand by your employees’ decisions when they are neededare needed

Take control during emergency or dire Take control during emergency or dire circumstancescircumstances

► Are you an ethical role model?Are you an ethical role model? Poor ethical role models encourage employees to Poor ethical role models encourage employees to

cheat, lie and stealcheat, lie and steal Be the role model your employees need to mirrorBe the role model your employees need to mirror

2. Establish Guidelines and 2. Establish Guidelines and Methods of OperationMethods of Operation

►What are the rules of the roadWhat are the rules of the road►Methods, steps procedures need to be Methods, steps procedures need to be

established and communicatedestablished and communicated►What happens when things go wellWhat happens when things go well►What happens when things don’t go What happens when things don’t go

wellwell►Process map to establish the best Process map to establish the best

methods of operationmethods of operation

3. Know Your Business3. Know Your Business

►Know why you existKnow why you exist►Know the numbers and measurements Know the numbers and measurements ►Post the measurement results Post the measurement results

regularlyregularly►Acknowledge and celebrate successesAcknowledge and celebrate successes►Tune up as necessaryTune up as necessary►Teach the businessTeach the business

4. 4. Do Right for Those Who Do Do Right for Those Who Do RightRight

There are two things that people There are two things that people want more than sex and money: want more than sex and money: Recognition and PraiseRecognition and Praise

► Mary Kay AshMary Kay Ash

5. Let Them Know How They are 5. Let Them Know How They are DoingDoing

► Clarify your expectations and theirs Clarify your expectations and theirs People don’t need to learn as they go if it isn’t People don’t need to learn as they go if it isn’t

necessarynecessary Ask them what they need and want from youAsk them what they need and want from you Tell them how they are doingTell them how they are doing Give them a voice and say, let them know they are Give them a voice and say, let them know they are

a partner in thisa partner in this Do right by those who do rightDo right by those who do right

Take out a piece of paper and write down the name Take out a piece of paper and write down the name of each team member and the date of your last of each team member and the date of your last meeting with them. Did you discuss with them meeting with them. Did you discuss with them how they were doing and what they could do to be how they were doing and what they could do to be more successful?more successful?

6. Ask Them How 6. Ask Them How YouYou are Doingare Doing

““What one or two things can I do or What one or two things can I do or stop doing, that would make me astop doing, that would make me a better leader in your eyes?”better leader in your eyes?”

Make

7. Make sure they have the tools 7. Make sure they have the tools they needthey need

►Ask . . . Is there anything we need to Ask . . . Is there anything we need to make this work better, faster or make this work better, faster or easiereasier

►Safety is more important than Safety is more important than productivityproductivity

8. Deal With Performance Problems 8. Deal With Performance Problems EarlyEarly

►The best way to escape problems is The best way to escape problems is to solve themto solve them

►Things never fix themselvesThings never fix themselves

9. Be flexible and “zero tolerant”9. Be flexible and “zero tolerant”

►Know when to stand your groundKnow when to stand your ground►Know when to bendKnow when to bend►Be “zero tolerant” on ethical, legal Be “zero tolerant” on ethical, legal

and organizational values and rulesand organizational values and rules

►Conflicts do not improve with ageConflicts do not improve with age►Keep your eyes and ears open for Keep your eyes and ears open for

potential conflictspotential conflicts

10. Nip Conflicts in the bud10. Nip Conflicts in the bud

► Invest in your most expensive Invest in your most expensive resourcesresources

►What have you done to help your What have you done to help your workforce learn and grow in the last workforce learn and grow in the last six months?six months?

11. Help them learn and grow11. Help them learn and grow

12. Choose Employees 12. Choose Employees WiselyWisely

►Define Job-Fit CriteriaDefine Job-Fit Criteria► Interview Deeply and WellInterview Deeply and Well►Take Reference Checks SeriouslyTake Reference Checks Seriously►Get Excited About Your ChoiceGet Excited About Your Choice

The Training Source, Inc.www.trainingzoom.com

13. Define & Model 13. Define & Model ExcellenceExcellence

►Define what excellence isDefine what excellence is►Create an environment of excellenceCreate an environment of excellence►Communicate the definition of Communicate the definition of

excellenceexcellence►Be consistentBe consistent►Don’t contradict your self when Don’t contradict your self when

defining excellence defining excellence (oh, that was last (oh, that was last month)month)

14. Plan the Work and 14. Plan the Work and Work the PlanWork the Plan

►Not just a to-do listNot just a to-do list►Communicate what is expectedCommunicate what is expected►Practice!!!!!Practice!!!!!►Act with perseverance and agilityAct with perseverance and agility

Be relentless but be flexibleBe relentless but be flexible Know when to kill your planKnow when to kill your plan

15. Embrace Diversity15. Embrace Diversity

►Accept the fact that people are Accept the fact that people are differentdifferent

►Different strokes for different folksDifferent strokes for different folks►Minders, Finders and GrindersMinders, Finders and Grinders

►““The real death of this country will The real death of this country will come when everyone is alikecome when everyone is alike””

James T. EllisonJames T. Ellison

16. Stay Connected and 16. Stay Connected and Accessible Accessible

►So, do you have an open-door policy? So, do you have an open-door policy? ►Maintain regular contact Maintain regular contact ►Make sure people know how to best Make sure people know how to best

contact youcontact you►Return all calls, messages and emails Return all calls, messages and emails

from your team membersfrom your team members

17. Proactively Manage 17. Proactively Manage ChangeChange

►Begin with the endingBegin with the ending►Understand that there will be Understand that there will be

resistanceresistance►Know the neutral zone – this is the Know the neutral zone – this is the

transition periodtransition period►Don’t make it a marathonDon’t make it a marathon►Help others transitionHelp others transition►Know when your reach the endKnow when your reach the end

18. Keep Your Promises18. Keep Your Promises

► Are you dependable, reliable & Are you dependable, reliable & trustworthy? trustworthy?

►As a leader, your word is only as As a leader, your word is only as good as the last promise you kept or good as the last promise you kept or brokebroke

► If you keep your word, they must If you keep your word, they must also keep theirsalso keep theirs

19. Keep Improving Yourself19. Keep Improving Yourself

►When do you reach the point where When do you reach the point where you know everything? you know everything?

►Read publications, attend workshops Read publications, attend workshops and use the informationand use the information

20. Leave a Legacy20. Leave a Legacy

►Create a legacy visionCreate a legacy vision►Visualize what it will beVisualize what it will be►Become what you seekBecome what you seek►Leave things in great shapeLeave things in great shape