This is a blog about growing your business and what it takes to build a successful organization. To me the success of a business comes down to one thing – people. At the end of the day business is made up by people, for people and it’s all about people interacting with people exchanging value; ultimately money for products or services. I am fascinated by people and what drives people to do what they do and don’t do. One thing I know for sure is leader’s do and don’t a number of things that drives their success. 

In challenging times leaders motivate and strategise by moving into one of two camps – hope or fear.

Those that choose hope inspire people to follow them by holding a clear vision of the future and the potential. They are both inspirational and aspirational which motivates people to follow.

Leaders that choose fear convince people their options are limited and they better follow them or else. The “or else” is never specified but the message is clear - you can’t survive without me.

Its true, leadership needs to morph, change and adapt especially in tough economic times. When the going gets tough the tough really need to get going. However, rather than blame external forces (the fair weather “fear” leadership approach) “hope” leaders  dig in, embrace the adversity and walk the talk (the withstand the test of time leadership approach).

In my travels I meet a lot of phenomenal leaders. People that consistently deliver above average results and do so treating people – their customers, employees and suppliers with dignity and respect and always look for a win/win. Not only do they consistently deliver value, they have the ability to scan the marketplace and see where things are going, and as a result shift and morph their business model accordingly. It is my intent over the upcoming months to share their stories with you in hopes that you will be inspired and see that it can be done. Rather than doing nothing and waiting for the current economic tide to turn, you’ll take action and find opportunities where none previously existed.