Leadership. Libraries of books have been written on the subject. You've probably worked with both exemplary and inept bosses over the years, and have learned as much from the lousy ones as the men and women you'd run into a burning building for.
Great leadership transcends industry and you don't have to be a "Patton" to demonstrate it in business. Team Omaha Promos embraces strong leadership principles. Why? Well, because we believe in them. Plus, we figure you're not going to give your hard earned promotional marketing dollars to a company that isn't a leader in its industry.
Distilled then, what follows are what we call the 4 Golden Rules of Leadership. Four basic canons. Master them and enjoy success in your field. Ignore them and fail (we promise).
#1: Own Your Mistakes
There is virtually no leadership trait that curries favor with workers more than a bosses' willingness to openly admit wrongdoing. This, coupled with an expressed willingness to go back to the drawing board and an earnest desire to make things right will, more often than not, make up for nearly all the other supervisory/managerial mistakes you make. Almost.
#2: Courage of Your Convictions
Don't be a wallflower. How you're perceived by your people, your clientele and your superiors hangs in the balance. Don't sit mum in committees and round table settings; instead, speak your peace while remembering to (a) never criticize on a personal level, (b) find at least one thing to compliment the person on and, (c) always offer a solution. The moral: Demonstrate a little courage. Gain a ton of respect.
#3: Take Risks
We don't walk around jerking on chains just to see what barks on the other end, but some of our best work has been precipitated by the thought, "Damn, that's a bit risky, but we have to give it a go!" So stand up. Clench your fists and grit your teeth and GO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF ALREADY!
#4: Don't be an Autocrat
If you're an owner or manager, don't be an autocrat. Admittedly, much of the time you're making decisions based only on available data and experience, not a democratic process. Having said that, if you believe in the precept "you're only as good as the people around you" then you owe it to the mission to seek out and act on employee suggestions (their gripes and complaints too). Or adopt the position you're smarter than everyone else and let us know how that goes for you.
Remember: you can't be a leader if no one is willing to follow.
