Without solid leadership your company will lack direction and may eventually fail. Leadership is a winning combination of personal traits and the ability to think and act as a leader (even if you’re only leading yourself).

Leadership skills need to be adapted, fine tuned and continually improved. Most people can’t name great managers, but they can name great leaders. Improve your leadership abilities and you will attain the goals you have set for your company and your life!

Learn the five key strategies necessary to lead your company to greatness.

KEY #1 – A LEADER PLANS

Top producers in the recruiting profession plan in order to elevate their level of success. The core of leadership is being proactive rather than reactive.

It is imperative that you become a consistent planner and mandate planning for your sales team. If they currently do not plan, step one would be to have them list the six activities closest to the money each evening before leaving the office. This planning is not negotiable and must be implemented now.

As a leader, you also need to plan for the following:

• Business plan
• Budget
• Vendor review
• System implementation
• Training
• Contests
• Performance reviews
• Reserve fund – 5%
• Next downturn in the economy

KEY #2 – A LEADER HAS VISION

Vision is essential to strong leadership. If you don’t know where you’re going you won’t get there! Your leadership vision should represent your dreams, goals and passions. Your vision needs to ignite your passion and core values!

Review and possibly revise your Mission and Vision Statement annually based on your current goals.

What is your positioning statement?

What position do you own:

• Within our profession?
• Within your geographic area?
• Within your niche?

KEY #3 – A LEADER SHARES THEIR VISION

When I spoke with owners who had lost their companies in past economic downturns, one commonality was their team had no idea what they were attempting to build. Sharing your leadership vision will help your vision grow and your leadership skills develop. As you demonstrate your own belief in your vision, you and your team will strengthen your determination to make your leadership vision become reality! You will also gain respect of your team and you will work together toward a common goal.

Have your team write down their ten non-negotiable goals with action items. Often they are willing to complete some of the action items you have listed to ensure your company hits goals set – you just need to ask.

It is critical your employees have a clear understanding of the exact role they play in the success of your company.

KEY #4 – A LEADER MAKES DIFFICULT DECISIONS

Once you have created your leadership vision, write down your plan and share this information with your team. Then you need to act!

A true leader makes difficult decisions on a timely basis. If you were to write down the characteristics of a great leader, the word “procrastination” would never be included on that list!

Review the following:

• Do you have the team you need to achieve your goals
• If you were unable to work for 90 days – what would happen to your company
• Are you generating a profit each month
• Do you have the best vendors
• Have you formed strategic partnerships
• Are 100% of your employees profitable
• Do you have minimum standards that must be met – consequences if not
• Create a Plan A, B and C

KEY #5 – A LEADER INSPIRES BY EXAMPLE

Becoming a leader isn’t easy because it takes a conscious commitment and consistent effort to develop effective leadership skills. Anyone who is willing to make the effort can learn to lead. Never underestimate the impact you have on the individuals you lead. They will look to you for guidance, they will watch what you do and say, and eventually will want to develop their own leadership abilities.

You must refrain from becoming their brain and close your open door policy. Leaders segment their day and spend at least one hour per week working on their businesses.

Your team needs to observe the following:

• Focus during prime time
• Practice what you preach
• Consequences for employees not achieving goals
• Showing vs. telling them how to do something
• Willing to embrace change and new techniques
• Continually learning
• Failures or rejection are not fatal
• You are always the same person
• You adhere to your core values

Working Owners and Managers in the Staffing and Recruiting Profession have two full-time jobs - Managing and Producing. Developing strong leadership skills may sound like another “job” when in fact, they are critical to your personal and business success. When you become an effective leader, your job actually becomes less stressful and you will elevate yourself and your business to greatness.