How to be a better Founder CEO by getting closer to your Employees

from Entrepreneur.com 06 April 16 enhanced by Peter/CXO Wiz4biz

As the Founder of your company and now becoming more of a CEO, are you: 1) looking for a way to inspire your team? 2) determining which leadership tactics will boost morale? Of course you are. But, as you should personally know, that’s no easy way to accomplish those tasks. You can, however, get one step closer to becoming an outstanding CEO – by having better leadership through these seven (7) ways.

1. Walk about. [the HP Way] The best executives don’t hide in their office or at meetings all day. They get their hands dirty sharing some of the workload with their team. Amancio Ortega, the founder of of Zara and currently the second richest person in the world, is admired, according to the Telegraph, for “sharing a table on the factory floor, with some of the designers, fabric experts & buyers.” When I know what’s going on deep in our organization, I have a much better understanding of what the important issues are and I can make better decisions.

2. Strong Support. Make certain your Team knows you have their interests at heart. This is more than just being supportive & understanding. This means that you give them credit & recognition for their hard work, as well as reward them to show your appreciation. Furthermore, it means that you should get to know your team, so that you can understand their strengths & weaknesses. Learn how they think, so that you can properly inspire them on a daily basis.

3. Have Lunch with employees on a regular basis. Some of the most powerful executives & leaders are known for having lunch with their employees. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, has been enjoying lunch with random team members for years. Paul Brough explains on LinkedIn that executives have realized that eating with co-workers have the following benefits;
· Opens up new opportunities within the organization. New ideas are formed & shared
· Employees gain new insights regarding the organization – how they fit in & how they can contribute.
· It reduces stress, because employees feel you care about them & their concerns – which also boosts morale.
· It creates a stronger company culture.
· Overall, it can improve profits.

4. Work on your Conversational Skills. These are one of the most important traits that an executive should possess. Without these skills, you won’t be able to express your ideas, display your confidence, and motivate your team to accomplish the company’s Vision. To improve your communication skills, practice the following communication skills;
· Being aware of your body language and how to read the body language of others.
· Avoid using conversation fillers like ‘um.’
· Prepare a Presentation script on key issues, so you get your points across.
· Tell an interesting story to illustrate a point.
· Ask questions and repeat it back to them, so you’re both are sure you understand.
· Remove any distractions, such as your mobile device. No interuptions unless absolutely necessary.
· Keep the perspective of your audience in mind – to know what they want.
· Get to the point & be brief, but also specific about what you’re trying to convey.
· Develop empathy so that you can understand others.
· Listen to others without interrupting them.
Once you’ve perfected these skills, you’ll be able to put your team at ease, as well inspire & motivate them.

5. Be more Sociable, by being more Active online. As the Founder & CEO, you already have a full plate. But, if there is one more task that you should add to workload, it’s being more active online, specifically social media. According to a study conducted by a Public Relations firm, 76 % of executives believe that it’s a good idea for CEOs to participate on Social Media networks. The advantages of being active on social media is that: 1) it proves that you have an innovative company, 2) humanizes your brand, 3) builds relationships with the media & customers, and 4) gives you a competitive edge. Being active on social media is also an excellent way for you & your team to connect both outside of the office and directly if there is ever a question or concern since there may be times when you can’t meet face-to-face.

6. Encourage Feedback. It can be difficult to ask for feedback, either because you don’t want to hear any criticism or employees are fearful in upsetting you, but “honest” feedback can help your business grow. Instead of avoiding feedback, welcome suggestions & ideas from your team by giving the following techniques a try;
· Replace the old Suggestion box with periodic Continuous Improvement meeting, so that anyone can bring up an issue or even have anonymous submissions by shy people – so that everyone can express their ideas.
· Ask you team insightful questions like what they would change, what are customer saying, and how you can help them become more successful.
· Write an Action Item list, so you can follow up at the next meeting to show their ideas are important & acted on + report the results. If there are significant improvements, pay a Bonus out of the savings.

7. Hold yourself Accountable. I’ve had bosses in the past who only showed up to point fingers when there was a problem. Don’t be that person. It’s not productive, and it will turn your team against you. Instead, hold yourself accountable and look for ways to prevent the problem from happening again. That doesn’t mean that you have to be in charge of everything — that’s impossible. You can delegate tasks to the best team members possible and establish specific goals that you & your entire team can support. This way, if something does go wrong, it still rests on your shoulders.

Comments: Do you have any ideas of how to help a Founder become a good CEO?