Plain and Simple: Bright Business Insights Winter 2019 | Page 9

RISE TO THE CHALLENGE Find Success by Promoting a Leadership Culture Now that 2018 is behind you, can you look back and honestly say you Being a better leader and bringing in a more leadership-driven culture to achieved everything you set out to accomplish? It’s ok if the answer is your business will also help your employees realize their full potential. no. In fact, it’s pretty rare for even the most motivated and successful In your leadership position, it’s important to always be visible and people to cross everything off their list. However, as you look ahead to vocal when expressing your objectives. But, this can only be done if 2019, it’s important to use the goals you set over the last 12 months as a you genuinely want to lead and motivate. starting point for continued personal and professional growth. To be successful in the year ahead, goal setting should take the number one spot on your to-do list. But to be clear, I’m not talking about your ordinary goal setting. I’m talking about taking a meaningful approach to the goal-setting exercise. Consider how you can leverage your business knowledge, skills and abilities to step up as a leader within your business and throughout your community. Assessment Tools As mentioned earlier, to be a great leader, you should understand not only yourself but your employees’ strengths and weaknesses. Evaluating personalities is no easy task, which is why you should look into these popular leadership assessment tools for assistance: • Caliper Profile © – This assessment tests for 21 innate traits and is a great starting point for businesses to put all of their leadership Leadership Culture goals together. Additionally, it helps people identify the areas in At any business, being in a leadership position can carry a lot of weight. which they are strong and the areas where they should focus more However, it’s what you choose to do while in this position that matters. attention. The test gives you the awareness to be more successful Take a moment to consider whether you have meaningful influence or in situations at work and at home. empty authority based solely on a title. If the answer is the latter, the following actions can help you elevate your position in the company by • assessment tests that evaluate an individual’s personality to become a better, more influential leader: • • employees’ personalities, you will better understand the way they improvement. operate and be able to handle situations better. Review your work style and determine if you are leading or simply Maintain your employees’ expectations of you by being more builds). The Predictive Index © – This assessment helps leaders improve complete, a summary report is generated that provides a narrative regarding the individual’s behavioral, communication and leadership styles. It will also provide an individualized behavioral pattern with insights regarding coaching and development Be inspirational, motivational and fun in order to get the most out of your employees and avoid any behavioral filters. • • their people for better business performance. Once the test is predictable during your day-to-day activities (even when pressure • determine if they are a fit for a specific position. By knowing your Consider your distinctive traits and identify opportunities for managing. • Hogan Assessment Tests © – This is made up of several different Welcome bad news to avoid the fear of conflict. opportunities to help individuals find success. The overall concept of these tools is to find out how everybody fits together in a business. You can’t be a great leader and motivate someone if you don’t understand how they operate at a deeper level. It’s important to remember that the fundamentals of leadership haven’t changed, but the psyche of management must always adapt. Leadership, when you boil it down, is being able to influence the people around you, and having a leadership culture at your business will bring more success in more areas. So for the months ahead, assess yourself and your employees to find the leadership goals your business can embrace. by: Dustin Raber, CPA, CMP Principal & Director of Manufacturing Services 545 North Market Street Wooster, OH 44691 330.521.4534 [email protected] Give me a call to learn more about these assessment tools and what you can do to promote a leadership culture at your company.