First off, see ya later 2011, you were interesting, but it’s time to move on. Here’s to 2012 being less dramatic, even if it all ends on December 21st. No, I don’t think the world is going to end, maybe this cartoon sums up my belief better:
Even better, let’s talk about the 9 things I learned from 2011. Personally, it was a year of change; 2-year olds, moving houses, new job title. Yup, I’m now the CEO of the company. However, through all this, I gleened nine lessons to carry me into 2012. Some of this is a mix of things learned from The Five Temptations of a CEO: A Leadership Fable
**Disclosure: Those links above are through my Amazon account and I get a cut from the sales, just so you know.**
In no particular order, my list of 9:
1. Hire people better than you. It’s human nature not to want to be shown up or to not be the smartest person in the room. However, as a business leader, you are a fool to think, you can do it all or be it all for your company. You are far better off focusing on being a leader, setting strategy, and making sure all the “gerbils” are rowing in the same direction. Hire people to bring new fresh ideas to specific areas.
2. Be fluid in how you define what you do or don’t be so hell-bent on one task. As a leader, your job is to lead yet you do have your talents. The smaller your company, the more hats you will wear. No doubt you will have projects to work on, some you like and some you don’t. Try to keep fluid and not completely focused on one task or department. Give yourself slack and pass that project on to someone else. Hopefully, someone better than you. 
3. Don’t get bogged down with doing everything there is in marketing, pick and choose. With the advent of “social media”, marketing changed forever. I still feel that even a manufacturing company can benefit greatly from being in the social arena. You should explore everything you can, from Twitter to email newsletter, just don’t let any of them consume you. It’s easy to get wrapped up in seeing your Twitter “Klout” grow, but is your business growing? Set your objectives at the start and keep with them. Get rid of things that aren’t working. Make sure what you do feeds your business, otherwise, it’s just sucking energy.
4. GTD (Getting Things Done) method for productivity is fantastic but don’t be afraid to make small changes. With all great ideas, I have a tendency to get wrapped up in lose sight. Same with this great productivity tool by David Allen, I’ve seen huge results in my productivity and sanity by working with the system. However, it can rock your world to go head strong into it. It’s ok to work in small pieces at a time. Kinda like how you eat an Elephant, one piece at a time. I do recommend it highly, none-the-less.
5. Keeping a positive outlook is very important as a leader, so important it can help pull you though tough times. I’m not going to go on and on about positive thinking and the “Secret.” But I am going to tell you that keeping positive will not only make you feel better but the people you lead will feel better about their work. With the alternative feeling “poopy,” which would you pick?
6. Strategy is more important than anything. No, really, it is. No matter what your size of company, even a simple strategy is more important than nothing. Just having a direction to point the ship, or dingy, does wonders for morale and sales. You will be amazed at what can be done when you put the sights on a target.
7. Being invulnerable with staff builds trust. *cough* Ok, this is a tough one and one I’m learning to be so true. When I was a younger leader, I was vulnerable with people. Eventually, like most in business, I was stung or back-stabbed. It becomes so hard to be vulnerable when the same people you are being open with could have you at the end of a law suit the next day. Don’t think that way, be a little bit vulnerable. It builds more trust in the long run, which in turn builds greater debate. Try it, just a little and see how it feels. Just know, as a leader, you aren’t the first or last to be stabbed by a friend. E tu Bruti?
8. Being clear and decisive as a leader is paramount. A few years of a bad economy and dropping sales can easily depress a person. What I noticed in myself was a dropping of confidence and a desire to be sure of being right before I made a decision. Wow, can this really kill a company. Several former Marines I know have separately told me that it’s better to make a decision than to be right. Go with the majority of the information, your gut, and then hold on. You can always change your mind when you see the decision needs to be tweaked. As well, get in the practice of saying, “I was wrong.” It’s ok to be wrong.
9. Accountability and respect of others are more important than being popular or liked. Sure we all want to be liked, but if you do it too much, you might not make the right decisions. Being liked means I don’t want to have a conflict with you. It also means I might not tell you about poor performance before I fire you, because I really won’t have to deal with you anymore. Harsh, yup. Does it really happen? Daily. All leaders are human and want to be liked. Nobody likes to tell another they aren’t pulling hard enough. However, it’s far better to tell a person what they can do to improve than be unhappy because they didn’t read your mind. Hold people accountable so you show you respect them and care.
