61 Leadership Quotes to ‘Keep On Keeping On’ Posted on May 31, 2016September 22, 2022 by Jonathan Herrick Being the leader of the pack means that you have followers–even on days when you’re not sure whether you are worthy to be followed. As you probably already know, the most effective leaders are those who are confident in their ability to lead, so make sure you keep your head on straight and your ducks in a row by remembering some words of advice about leadership. Here are 61 leadership quotes to live by: Always look for the fool in the deal. If you don’t find one, it’s you. —Mark Cuban, AXS TV chairman and entrepreneur Fall seven times and stand up eight. –Japanese Proverb To think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted. — George Knelle There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure. – Colin Powell I didn’t fail the test. I just found 100 ways to do it wrong. –Benjamin Franklin The biggest risk is not taking any risk… In a world that changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks. – Mark Zuckerberg Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy. – Norman Schwarzkopf Eventually all things fall into place. Until then, laugh at the confusion, live for the moments, and know everything happens for a reason. – Albert Schweitzer The art of leadership is saying no, not yes. It is very easy to say yes. — Tony Blair Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position. — Brian Tracy Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. — Peter Drucker Every time you state what you want or believe, you’re the first to hear it. It’s a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself. — Oprah Winfrey Wonder what your customer really wants? Ask. Don’t tell. —Lisa Stone, BlogHer co-founder and CEO When I’m old and dying, I plan to look back on my life and say ‘wow, that was an adventure,’ not ‘wow, I sure felt safe. — Tom Preston-Werner Risk more than others think is safe. Dream more than others think is practical. — Howard Schultz The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it. — Debbi Fields A meeting is an event at which the minutes are kept and the hours are lost. – Unknown The winners in life think constantly in terms of I can, I will, and I am. Losers, on the other hand, concentrate their waking thoughts on what they should have or would have done, or what they can’t do. – Dennis Waitley Make every detail perfect and limit the number of details to perfect. — Jack Dorsey Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure. — Napoleon Hill No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you’re playing a solo game, you’ll always lose out to a team. – Reid Hoffman The difference between a boss and a leader: A boss says go!-A leader says Let’s Go! –E.M. Kelly Experience taught me a few things. One is to listen to your gut, no matter how good something sounds on paper. The second is that you’re generally better off sticking with what you know. And the third is that sometimes your best investments are the ones you don’t make. — Donald Trump Everyone has an idea, but it’s really about executing the idea and attracting other people to help you with the idea. – Jack Dorsey I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’ — Muhammad Ali If people like you, they’ll listen to you, but if they trust you, they’ll do business with you. — Zig Ziglar If you see a bandwagon, it’s too late. – James Goldsmith You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. –Maya Angelou I daydreamed for motivation. I didn’t lie to myself and talk about my passions and how if I was passionate enough about something I could be successful at it. — Mark Cuban You must be the change you wish to see in the world. – Mahatma Gandhi I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. — Thomas Edison A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty. –Unknown “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. — Vidal Sassoon Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.-Michael Jordan If you ain’t making waves, you ain’t kickin’ hard enough. — Unknown How you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top. — Yvon Chouinard (Founder of Patagonia) I think when you move past your fear and you go after your dreams wholeheartedly, you become free. Know what I’m saying? Move past the fear. — LL Cool J Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I’m not there, I go to work. –— Robert Orben Life isn’t about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself. — George Bernard Shaw Bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. —Abraham Lincoln You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose. – Dr. Seuss Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else. — Les Brown The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts. — Marcus Aurelius When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reach, don’t adjust the goals; adjust the action steps. — Confucius Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. — Theodore Roosevelt I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. It’s because of them I’m doing it myself. —Albert Einstein Do just once what others say you can’t do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again. — James R. Cook Forget all the reasons it won’t work and believe the one reason that it will. — Author Unknown Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant. — Robert Louis Stevnson Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all time thing. You don’t win once in awhile, you don’t do things right once in awhile, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. – Vince Lombardi Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive — Howard Thurman Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans. –John Lennon Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it. Dwight D. Eisenhower Never tell someone how to do something. Just tell them what needs to be done and they will amaze you with their ingenuity. – General George S. Patton Do what you feel in your heart to be right–for you’ll be criticized anyway. – Eleanor Roosevelt Earn your leadership every day. – Michael Jordan The way to achieve your own success is to be willing to help somebody else get it first. — Iyanla Vanzant Ninety percent of leadership is the ability to communicate something people want. — Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senator You have to look at leadership through the eyes of the followers and you have to live the message. What I have learned is that people become motivated when you guide them to the source of their own power and when you make heroes out of employees who personify what you want to see in the organization.” — Anita Roddick, businesswoman I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow. When there’s that moment of ‘Wow, I’m not really sure I can do this,’ and you push through those moments, that’s when you have a breakthrough.” — Marissa Mayer, Yahoo Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.” — Anne Sweeney, Walt Disney Share these quotes on social media or with your leadership-minded friends.
Be A Better Leader This Year Posted on January 27, 2016September 16, 2022 by Don Breckenridge Being a great leader doesn’t always come naturally. Small business owners and entrepreneurs often get started because of their passion and skills — in software development, marketing, finance or IT, for instance — but becoming a good manager or great leader requires it’s own unique skill set. Well, new year, new you, as the saying goes. Why not work toward being a better leader this year? As the owner of your business you set the tone and create the company culture, and you set an example for your up-and-coming leaders to follow. No matter how talented your team is, you are still leading it, and the better you are, the better they will be. Be open to learning the skills and strategies that enable you to inspire and motivates others. The best leaders nurture talent, encourage innovation and foster creative thinking. Here’s how to be one of them: Be transparent. Be straight with your employees and, in turn, they will be more loyal and more understanding through your business’ ups and downs. Keep them involved in as many conversations as possible about the direction of the business, growth strategies and changes in workplace policies like flexible scheduling, bonuses and vacation time. If they know where they stand within the company–and where the company stands within its market and industry–they will feel more secure and more engaged. Keeping your employees in the communication loop will help them feel unified as a team and committed to the company for the long-term. Be flexible. No one knows better than a business owner that things can change on a dime—a vendor is late with a critical component of your product, a winter storm cuts power to the manufacturing plant, your server gets hacked. You may have to brainstorm inventive work-arounds in the event of unexpected problems, but that’s the nature of a good leader—you don’t lose your cool when things start to fall apart—you get creative and you motivate others to help put the pieces back together. Don’t micromanage. You’re the owner, the CEO, the president. And in order to be effective as a leader you can’t also be overly involved with every employee’s performance. Aside from the fact that it is draining both physically and psychologically, you are also sending a message to your employees that you don’t trust them. And employees do better when they have have autonomy. Research shows that workers who believe they are free to make choices at work and be accountable for their own decisions are also happier and more productive. This is especially true, say experts, when the work is complex or requires a good deal of creativity. Use a coach. Guidance is one of the most important resources a leader can tap because as every CEO will tell you, it’s lonely at the top. Especially in a small business, when “the top” is often just you. Meeting regularly with a coach or mentor who doesn’t have an agenda and can give you objective, honest advice and feedback, is invaluable when it comes to effective leadership. Mentors and coaches aren’t the same however. If you feel you’re still learning and developing as a leader then a mentor is probably a better choice, as opposed to a coach. A mentor will help you develop your leadership skills and potential, and they are usually in it with you for the long haul. A coach, on the other hand, generally works with you for a shorter period of time and is performance driven. In this case if your goal is to manage and lead more effectively and/or strategically, a coach with help you improve your skills, acquire new ones and enhance your performance. Be a coach. Part of being a leader is developing other leaders within your organization, so that they can focus more on the day-to-day while you focus more on the long-term version. That means acting as a coach for your rising leaders. In a small business there are usually just a few senior managers, so they may not have the bandwidth to be helping younger employees cultivate leadership capabilities. Instead, meet individually and regularly with your best talent to get feedback about what they need to help them learn and grow. Give them challenging assignments that enable them to hone their skills and learn new ones. And lead by doing. If you can model the traits of a compassionate, calm and curious leader, your employees will learn to lead that way too. Reach Out to Other Leaders Hatchbuck is not the first company I’ve started, but what’s unique this time around is the camaraderie I’ve built with other entrepreneurs working on amazing and inspiring projects in the heart of midwest tech. Being part of St. Louis’ thriving tech scene and keeping our headquarters in the T-REX tech incubator in downtown St. Louis has been essential to our success. I am also a member of my local Entrepreneurs Organization chapter, which has been invaluable in connecting with other entrepreneurs. Surround yourself with great leaders to grow professionally and personally. As a business owner, you are a leader not just a boss or a manager. The way you lead draws your employees to you, builds the culture of your business, and trickles down to cultivate better sales and customer service. You cast the vision, so cast a great one.
Reclaiming Thought Leadership Posted on January 14, 2016May 27, 2016 by Jonathan Herrick Great leaders constantly look ahead to the future, driving innovation in their respective fields. True disruptors like Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Steve Jobs-the pioneer of Apple, and marketing guru Seth Godin have revolutionized the way we market and consume some of the most important products and services in our daily lives. Over the years as leaders have made their mark, the term-“Thought Leadership” has emerged as a label assigned to these individuals and others for their ability to see future trends and share their knowledge and experiences with others. For most people, the concept of becoming a thought leader used to be out of reach, only reserved for the elite. But with the rise of content, professional and social networking platforms such as WordPress, Linkedin and Twitter, it has become easier than ever to pole vault yourself into the desired position of knowledge kingpin. In fact nearly 2 million blog posts are published on the WordPress platform daily and over 200 billion tweets were sent in 2015. This is both good and bad. While the opportunity exists to brand yourself as a thought leader within your industry, it has also has created a lot of noise in content land-watering down what it truly means to be a thought leader. In other words- to truly reach your audience and make an impact it takes more than re-tweeting a bunch of tweets all day, recycling random content on Linked in, and hearing yourself talk on periscope. The real definition of a thought leader is someone that prospects, clients, followers, competitors and industry leaders acknowledge as go source for vision, information and knowledge in a specific area of expertise. So whether you are an accounting firm looking to grow your influence or an inbound marketing expert wanting to help small businesses grow, there are a few simple truths to becoming the Jedi master in your field or domain: True Thought Leadership Begins Within Thought leaders set themselves apart not only through innovation but also with the passion that drives innovation. As Denise Brosseau of the Thought Leadership Lab points out: ”Thought leadership is not about being known, it is about being known for making a difference.” Thus, the first step on the long road to becoming a true thought leader involves identifying your passion, then using it to fuel an overarching mission. Ideally, this mission will be narrow in scope, yet ambitious enough to attract a tribe or following. Focusing in on the appropriate mission may take some time as thought leaders are often struck with inspiration when they least expect it. So as you search for a calling, continue to learn anything and everything you can about your area of passion, while also consulting with team members and other fellow professionals to pinpoint problems that need solving. Solve a Problem The greatest leaders aren’t great just because they are entrepreneurs, CEO’s and social philanthropists. They become thought leaders because they wake up every day looking to solve a problem aligned to their purpose. A great example is Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Twitter, Square and now LaunchCode. Square, for example, was born out of the inability for small businesses to grow without an easy to use tool to process payments: Jim has now started LaunchCode, an idea born out of a challenge when he was at Square, where he had a hard time finding enough development talent. Jim, in developing LaunchCode, found a way to look at a challenge from a different angle, changing the landscape of the human capital market in the tech arena. The result: An apprentice program that connects talent to corporations and shrinks the talent gap in the US. Over the years Jim has been on CNN, CNBC, in Forbes, you name it. Why? Because he is a problem solver first and then looks for ways to share what he knows with those around him. Find your Platform Once you develop your mission and have a clear solution to the challenges you have overcome, the next step to growing as a thought leader is to find a platform to share your thoughts and experiences. A solid social media presence can quickly improve your reach, connecting you to both your ideal audience and to other influencers within your industry. The ideal social media post will prove that, in addition to knowing what you’re talking about, you are willing to take calculated risks. Both qualities are essential in a thought leader. However, stay clear of trap of pushing out run of the mill content. Try asking a pressing question or sharing your experience of how you overcame a roadblock in your life. Don’t be afraid to push the envelope, after all no one follows leaders that are ordinary. Another platform to consider is blogging. If you don’t have a blog you are missing out on one of the greatest tools in your arsenal to share your wisdom and experiences with your target audience and monetize on your success. Whether you share your stories and content on your own blog or on tools such as Medium, LinkedIn, and Quora, the key is to turn your readers into fans by creating an authentic relationship with them. A great example of this is Chris Brogan’s blog. Forbes listed Chris as one of the must-follow marketing minds of 2014, plus listed his website as one of the 100 best websites for entrepreneurs. Chris does a masterful job of using his blog as a vehicle to connect, engage and inform his target audience with insightful content and resources to help businesses grow. From one-on-one discussions to broad social media updates, a variety of approaches can be used to establish authority and catapult yourself into the echelon of thought leadership. The phrase “thought leader” is starting to become an overused, buzzword in business today. With the explosion of online pretenders it is important to separate yourself from the herd by identifying your purpose, solving problems for your target audience, and finding a platform to reach your followers and influencers. It’s time to reclaim what it really means to be a thought leader: disrupting your space with innovative solutions, not watered-down, recycled ideas and content.
Establishing Yourself as an Authentic Leader Posted on December 31, 2015 by Don Breckenridge As a small business owner, it can feel like you are trying everything you can to grow your market share and sell products. But have you tried being your authentic self? Consumers respond to companies who feel true and likable. It’s the same reason why we vote for people we would want to share a beer with. I’d like to share why it is critical to establish yourself as an authentic leader if you want to stay competitive and how to do just that. Why Authentic Leadership Pays Off for Your Business Being authentic has a range of benefits, both for you and your business. When you are not trying to be “all things to all people,” you have more energy to focus on your skills and passions. You will be more productive. Staff and customers will be able to perceive this difference. So don’t be afraid to let your true self shine! I know that my strengths are on the product development side, so I’ve been intentional from the beginning about bringing key team members into the fold at Hatchbuck, from my business partner, Jonathan Herrick – strong on the sales and marketing side – to our director of customer success, Erin Posey, who is responsible for creating the awesome customer experience that our customers rave about. When I bring the right team members aboard, I am free to focus more on my passion – shaping the product vision and roadmap for Hatchbuck. As a small business owner, you can’t do it all – and even if you try, chances are you can’t do everything well at one time. Focus on your strengths. Get the right people in your business to fill in the other areas that impact your business. Then, go back to doing what you were passionate about doing in the first place. The pay-off will materialize as a happy team, better products and services, and a better experience for your customers. How Authenticity Boosts Your Brand Your target audience is a particular person with a particular need. Maybe you are a local bed and breakfast appealing to couples, or maybe you advise other small business owners on their marketing strategy. Either way, one of the best strategies to connect with your target audience is to bring some of your personality into your brand. In other words…be authentic. Don’t be afraid to showcase your amazing breakfasts in pics or post photos of your team helping a client succeed. Customers will enjoy the chance to see the “real people” behind your business. We like to share company photos and give our customers access to the people behind Hatchbuck, whether we’re decorating the office for the holidays or donating meals for Thanksgiving. These social media posts and emails always elicit some of the best responses from our audience. When you’re authentic, your staff will feel free to share their thoughts and talents. Embracing their ideas can be the key to success. At Hatchbuck, our customers and our team members have tremendous influence in shaping our app, and I rely on their insights to help direct the growth of our product. Take the time to listen to staff and clients and consider how you can integrate their needs with your business. Authentic leaders listen and act, as Harvard Business School research shows. When you listen to your team, really hear your customers, and act accordingly, you earn trust. Your employees trust you to do the right thing. They become more engaged in the success of your brand. Your customers trust you to deliver on your promises, and happily refer more business your way. By being an authentic leader, your brand equity grows. How to Become an Authentic Leader Authenticity isn’t just reserved for the Jeff Bezos or Mark Zuckerbergs of the world – it’s available to all business leaders. You don’t have to have a specific personality to be yourself. To let your true self shine, think about your story: Why did you go into business? What inspires you? What makes you proud? Use these ideas to shape and articulate your business’s mission, purpose, and core values. Then, hire people that are aligned to these pillars of your business. You can articulate this story in presentations, meetings, and interactions with your team and your customers. When you communicate your story, it becomes ingrained in your business from your website, to emails and marketing collateral. Your customers pick up on it, too, staying on-message when talking about your business to your network. When you are contemplating a new marketing strategy, ask yourself whether the effort is an authentic one. For instance, if you’re an easy-going, approachable every-man leader, you might not feel comfortable with an ad campaign that takes uses off-color humor. When you stay authentic, you can easily take steps to market your business that are in line with your true self, and in line with the core values of your business. As Harvard’s research indicates, all businesses can grow in the short term but only authentic ones have staying power. With authentic branding and leadership, your business can thrive.
Letting Go: How to Move from Micromanager to Small Business Leader Posted on November 6, 2015June 27, 2016 by Jonathan Herrick You started your business, so who could possibly know more about your business than you? Right? After all my dad used to say all the time, “If you want something done, you need to do it yourself.” But as your business grows, you need to hire, train and retain great employees. Leading your employees and keeping them accountable is a huge part of running a thriving small business. However, the difference between “Leadership” and “Micromanagement” is often a murky one. As an owner, you want to focus on the vision and mission of your business. So you strive to encourage your team to run with day-to-day tasks and projects. But when it comes to actually handing over the reins to your employees, it can be tough to let go of control. In Scott Berkin’s Open Letter to Micromanangers he shares a great analogy on owners and leaders who are a bit too controlling: “But if you are in fact a micromanager, you started over-managing the first day others worked for you. You have no idea what they are capable of. You’re probably treating at least one potential Seabiscuit as if he were a toy pony at the county fair.” The term “micromanagement” carries a lot of baggage with it, and for good reason. It is estimated nearly 80% off employees have suffered from being micromanaged (aka having to complete the dreaded TPS Reports). 1/3 have changed jobs because of being under the thumb. After all, people don’t leave their job, they leave bad owners and leaders. Are You a Micromanager? If you don’t fully trust the opinions and skill of your top employees, then you are probably micromanaging them. Here are a few rock-solid signs you might be overdoing it: Hovering Are you lingering to see which employees are checking Facebook or waiting to see how your employee adjusts to the new project? Shoulder monkeys never make good leaders. Constant Feedback Yes, it’s good to give regular feedback, but if you are not waiting for the project to be completed, then you are probably too close to the process. What if your significant other was “helping” you cook in the same way you are helping guide the project? Would the level of suggestions make you want to hand over the spatula or would you have room to feel you were still the chef in the kitchen? Becoming the “Client” You know those pesky clients that keep asking for little changes, often ending up miles away from their initial direction? Well, sometimes owners do this too. If you are pushing for small changes and then find the project ends up in a completely different direction, then you probably took the helm and drove the bus off-course. Yes, that’s micromanaging. You’re the Bottleneck Do all decisions or approvals have to go through you? Are your employees constantly waiting on you before they can respond to your customers? Do you take back delegated work before it’s finished or ready for review? By making daily processes completely dependent upon one person, your employees are stifled and can’t fully develop their potential. Also, while you’re jumping into projects, you lose valuable time you should be spending looking ahead, working on the big picture items needed to fuel growth. Letting Go “Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.” General Patton Micromanagement kills creativity and innovation, ruins employee retention, and hinders the customer experience. The reality is, when your people feel like “Big Brother” is watching their every move, they are less likely to think or step outside the box to deliver a memorable experience to your customers for fear of reprimand. So if you find you have good intentions, but are a bit too overzealous when it comes to leading the troops, here are 5 simple ways to move from dreaded micromanager to respected leader: Know Your Style First, it is important to understand that there is not a ”One-size-fits All” kind of leader, but a variety of them. According to the Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory, there are four different kinds of leadership styles: S1: Telling (relying on a unidirectional flow of information to the group) S2: Selling (convincing the group the leader is worth following) S3: Participating (the leader shares decision-making tasks for a more democratic approach) S4: Delegating (the leader parcels out tasks to qualified team members) To be a great leader you need to adapt your leadership style to your team to get the most out of them, in every situation. Hire Smart If you don’t trust the people working for you then you will be more inclined to micromanage them. So when it comes to adding new team members, hire 9’s and 10’s don’t settle for 3’s and 4’s. Find employees that are problem solvers and can run with initiatives. To quote the great Theodore Roosevelt: “The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” Coach and Teach Most small businesses owners wear a ton of hats and employee training is delegated to baptism by fire. While there’s a lot that can be learned from on the job experience, it’s hard to hold your employees accountable for results if they lack the proper training and support. A solid training program starts with the proper new hire training and continues with ongoing coaching and mentorship. By investing in your people personally and professionally, you’ll spend less time doing their work and more time equipping them to excel. Leverage Technology Often, owners and leaders micromanage because they don’t have a clear picture of the process and how it is producing results. The right tools give you data and insights into each employee and what you can do to best support them for success without becoming BIG brother. Learn to Delegate Think about all of the items on your plate. Prioritize key projects you should be involved in and decide what tactical items you could move to you team. Once you decide to delegate, give them the autonomy to complete the project and deliver results. Let your employees know you fully trust them and step in only in an emergency or when asked to. There is a good chance they won’t do things exactly the same way you would do it, but if you are looking to grow your small business you hold the key: Moving from a micromanager to a leader. And everyone wants to follow the leader. I know there will be tendency to want to do everything yourself, but remember: Teams, when allowed to flourish, will always deliver greater innovation and productivity than a single individual. Learn to let go of any tendencies to micromanage, and you’ll be rewarded by increased productivity, more engaged employees, and happier customers.
Donut Mondays and Free Lunch Friday: Do Workplace Incentives Make a Difference? Posted on October 26, 2015July 6, 2016 by Jessica Lunk The workplace environment has changed through the years.In many companies, even the terminology has changed. Employees are “associates” or “team members” and bosses are “team leaders” or “directors”. This change in the work environment, in most cases, is for the positive. Today’s “work” is more incentivized and even gamified. “Company culture” has become a term engrained in business spawning casual Fridays, in-company day care, and everything from bagel Tuesdays to free lunch Fridays. At Hatchbuck, we certainly have our own unique culture. The real question is do workplace incentives make a difference? We Went Right to The Top For the answer, we went right to the top, going to Hatchbuck’s Chief Sales/Marketing Officer Jonathan Herrick. Already knowing our culture it was no surprise to us that Jonathan felt company culture is critical, especially in the early start-up years of an organization. “I believe our culture has been a key catalyst for our growth here at Hatchbuck.” Jonathan explained. “I wanted to be purposeful about giving team members the power to own and drive the culture. I wanted to better align them to the purpose of the business.” Hatchbuck’s Core Values A good place to start is with a discussion of your company’s core values. While mission statements have their place, for modern companies, especially small companies, mission statements can sound corporate or disconnected. Core values, however, simply get down to it. They express what should be the focus of everyone involved, every day. At Hatchbuck our core values are broken down as follows. Be yourself. Do the right thing. Keep it simple. Work hard and have fun. Make a difference. If this sounds like something you may have learned in kindergarten you may not be far off. Core values are not complicated. They reach to the core of a company’s culture. The Effect on Our Culture We see the effect of these core values every day at Hatchbuck. We see it in the energy our people bring into the office. It manifests itself in how they seek solutions for our clients. It nurtures a culture where each person’s talents are respected and valued. It encourages everyone to find simple answers and have fun doing it. The fact is, in almost any situation, an environment that exudes positive energy is going to be more enjoyable and productive than one that is lethargic and negative. This isn’t rocket science. Creating an atmosphere where people feel valued and are encouraged is one that will likely attract and keep talented people. These people themselves add to the culture and it organically grows. But it first must be guided and nurtured. So, Do the Freebies Make a Difference? The answer is more obvious when the question is rephrased. “Can freebies help you nurture your company culture?” Of course the answer is yes. It can build camaraderie and help people be themselves. Freebies can be fun and help relieve pressure. Not every company has the ability to provide in-house day care or offer free steak dinners on Fridays. But even small companies can encourage activities and offer incentives that make the work environment more enjoyable and productive. The ROI on a couple dozen donuts can be pretty impressive.
Small Business Leadership: 5 Lessons from the Basketball Court Posted on March 18, 2015June 27, 2016 by Jonathan Herrick Growing up, I always had a basketball in my hand. I remember shooting hoops in the driveway of my parents’ house late at night with the driveway flood light on. After the 10th time of my mom asking me to come in and go to bed on a school night, she would turn the light out. I continued to shoot. My drive, determination, and passions lead me to where I am today. A basketball coach, dad and business leader who loves to grow people and companies. So I thought with the NCAA tourney kicking off it was a great time to reflect on the lessons I have learned in my years of playing, coaching as well as studying some of the best coaches in the game. Here are my 5 leadership lessons for small business owners: Cast the Vision To go from where you are to where you want to be: you have to have a dream… – Jim Valvano Jimmy Valvano, the legendary coach for NC State, is known for his heroic battle with cancer and the legacy he has left behind: He was also an amazing leader. As a coach at NC State he took time out once a year to have a vision celebration with his team. They would celebrate what it would feel like to win the national championship. In 1983 his vision became reality and the Wolfpack pulled off one the biggest upsets and best finishes in NCAA tournament history.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l5N2eKdvL4 Jim knew a key leadership principal: Vision leaks. I speak to so many small business owners who get busy with the day to day operations of the business and forget to slow down and recast the vision. You and your team need to be reminded every 30 days why you get up out of bed every day and what great goal(s) you are pursuing. Build a Winning Culture More important than the scoreboard at the end of the game, great coaches build lasting cultures that drive the right behaviors, attitudes and values. When you look at a great basketball team, chances are that they’ve been great for a while. Why is that? Look at Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Michigan State, UCLA and Butler just to name a few. At the center of their success is a culture engrained so deep it permeates to the coaches, players, and fans of the schools. Butler University is a prime example. Like most small businesses competing against the corporate behemoth, Butler is a David among Goliath’s in the NCAA. However, year after year they continue to have success. Why? They have been intentional about creating a culture of success shaped by the following core values: Humility – Those who humble themselves will be exalted Passion – Do not be lukewarm, commit to excellence Unity – Do not divide our house, team first Servanthood – Make teammates better, lead by giving Thankfulness – Learn from every circumstance In your small business, what do you value? Do you live your values or are they just a few words in the “About Us” section of your website? If you want to lead a winning business, invest in building a culture dedicated to success. Infuse your core values into every aspect of your business from the messaging on your site to your customer experience. Recruit the RIGHT Teammates I haven’t always recruited for the best talent. I’ve taken a few guys who would fit for different reasons. Leadership. Toughness” – Tom Izzo There’s an old adage that talent wins championships. Not true – teammates do. The best teams I have been a part of and coached have had the best team chemistry. In basketball, just like in your small business, everyone needs to know their role. Success only happens when you’re laser focused on what you do well as a team and you understand the strengths of each and every player on the roster. A great tool to help you better discover where you and your team mates strengths lie is StrengthFinder 2.0. It is an interactive resource developed to hone in on your personal strengths while eliminating time wasted on trying to improve your weaknesses. StrengthFinder is also super helpful when it’s time to hire that new employee, assess their strengths and determine where they can fit in on your team. If you need help, you can always leverage a Gallup Certified Strengthfinder coach to help you implement Strengthfinder for your small business. Train to WIN So imagine you’re the head coach of a college team and entered into the NCAA tournament having never practiced a single day. How would your team fair in the tourney? Would you make it to the final four? Of course not. Not when you’re facing other teams that have practiced and prepared all year long. The greatest coaches in NCAA history put an emphasis on “Training” for success vs “Trying” for success. It’s not enough to just to show up and play. “Champion” small business owners commit to learning and educating themselves everyday. They are passionate about doing what it takes to develop into better leaders and grow healthier, more successful companies. If you’re looking for helpful resources you can check out SmallBusiness.com and National Federation of Independent Business. Be True to Your Game As you check out the games in the NCAA tourney this year, each team has a different style. Some will be run and gun fast paced, some will slow it down and get the ball in to their big man. One team, Gonzaga, has made their living and success in past tournaments from behind the 3 point line. This season they are a best 40% from 3 point range. The great thing about Gonzaga is they know what they are and what they are not. What if in this year’s tourney they decided to change up their style and get away from their 3 point shooting game? Well, it would be a disaster and their team would be watching the rest of the tournament from their homes on the big screen! Your small business not only has a style and identity, but it’s your secret weapon. You know who you are and who your best customers are – so take a stand. When you are true to your game it gives you the best shot to attract the right fans and team mates, supercharging your business. When it comes to running a small business making sure you have the right vision and a winning culture are catalysts to your success. Then when you bring in the right people, running the right plays, and stay true to your game that’s when the magic happens….. What are some of your best lessons from the basketball court or the small business arena?