In any business, the overall Leader* (or Boss, if like me you’re happy using plain language) is responsible for a lot of things.
One of the most important is what – and how – they communicate to everyone else in the business.
* There’s a silly debate that’s been around for a few years about people wanting the person they report to at work, to be a leader not a manager. Next week I’ll chat about it. But put simply: regardless of your job title, there is ultimately only ever one true leader in a business. One overall boss. Everyone else? They are managers. And no matter how many people shout and stamp their feet in disagreement, there’s nothing wrong with being called a manager. It’s not a dirty word. Can a good manager also lead? Of course they can. But more on that, next week.
I’ve worked with many different leaders over the years. Like you, I’ve experienced good, average, and bad. The best ones? They can articulate clearly – and simply i.e. in plain language, not silly corporate-speak-mumbo-jumbo – the answers to the following key questions:
👉 Why does this business exist?
👉 What do we do, exactly?
👉 Who for?
👉 Where is the business at, right now?
👉 Where is the business going?
👉 What makes us different to competitors? How are we unique?
👉 What do our customers like about us?
👉 What’s it like to work here?
👉 How do people working in the business treat each other?
👉 Why would a potential new staff member want to join us?
👉 How is our business trying to make a positive difference to society / the world?
Simple questions, sure. But sometimes tough to answer well. You might have seen them dressed up in corporate glitter and called things like: Mission Statement, Vision Statement, Purpose, Objectives, Goals, Values, Principles, Standards, and Code of Conduct. That’s perfectly fine. But it’s healthy to occasionally blow the glitter off and see the naked crux of what’s really being asked. No doubt you can add other relevant and interesting questions to the above list.
As the leader of a company – or manager of a team, within that company – sharing the answers to these questions with your staff on a regular basis is crucial, to ensure you have a successful business. Even if you think you’re repeating yourself over and over, you need to keep doing it; groundhog day isn’t necessarily bad.
Do this well and your staff will be proud to work there, bring their best to work each day, and help you create a fantastic culture that your competitors can only dream of.
I call this your Edge. It’s your special something. Your secret sauce. Go find it, then share it with your people.
