How to Become a Tough Leader
Being thick skinned and resilient -- "tough," in other words -- is part of the job description for a small-business owner given the obstacles you have to clear to be successful. Being a tough leader means making hard decisions, coping with adversity, demanding top performance from employees and being a competitive force in the marketplace.
Set High Standards
When you set high standards for yourself and your business, your employees will know from the start what you expect of them. Develop detailed job descriptions, help employees set ambitious goals and objectives, conduct constructive performance evaluations and continually encourage your employees to strive for greater achievements. Reward significant contributions and set strict parameters for performance improvement for underperforming employees.
Be Competitive
Go after your target demographic in an aggressive but ethical way. Use guerrilla marketing tactics, provide better pricing structures and customer service options than your competitors and cultivate a loyal customer base. Monitor market conditions to stay ahead of your competition in a dynamic economic environment. Become known as an expert in your industry by joining industry associations and business organizations, and develop a reputation for being a results-oriented, goal-focused business leader.
Don't Accept Excuses
Set firm deadlines, develop comprehensive business strategies and let your employees know you have zero tolerance for tardiness, shoddy work product, poor customer service or internal workplace conflict. Resolve disputes as they arise, encourage employees to work out minor differences among themselves and recognize and reward loyalty and teamwork. If you have an employee who brings down morale or impedes the productivity of colleagues, replace him with someone who has a focused, positive, team mentality.
Be a Shrewd Negotiator
Always negotiate vendor and supplier contracts and never stop shopping around for the best deals. Establish fair pricing structures and exceptional services, but don't allow yourself to be undercut by clients or customers. Stand firmly behind your business and the quality of your products and services, but don't allow yourself to be taken advantage of.
Keep It Professional
In a small-business environment, employees and colleagues often have close relationships. This can make it challenging to make tough business decisions when it comes to laying off members of your staff or cutting back hours. Maintain a friendly yet professional relationship with employees and don't allow your personal feelings to negatively impact what's in the best interests of your business.