Be a Leader by Determining Your Value-Driven Direction

 Where do you want to go?

(From Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland)…
Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to
Alice: I don’t much care where.
The Cat: Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go.
Alice: …so long as I get somewhere.
The Cat: Oh, you’re sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.

So often small business owners get caught up in the work. The day-to-day of their business. Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth, wrote that business owners often take the roles of  the Technician, the Manager, and the Entrepreneur. The Technician is the one who does the work. If you own a hair salon, the Technician is the one cutting hair. The Manager is the one who tends to the business: marketing, bookkeeping, etc. The Entrepreneur is the one looking for the next opportunity for success. 

REFLECT: Take a look at your business. Which roles do you occupy most of the time? Technician, Manager, or Entrepreneur?

Similare to this approach, Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, wrote about the difference between Leadership and Management. In the analogy of using a ladder, a Manager figures out the most efficient way to climb the ladder while a Leader makes sure the ladder is leaning against the right wall.

REFLECT: Take a look at your business. Do you spend more time trying to do things right? Or do the right things? (adapted from Peter Drucker and Warren Bennis) 

Gaining control of your direction using your values as your guide.

If you have been acting in more of the technician/manager side and less in the entrepreneur/leader side, here’s  an exercise to help you regain control of your direction.

1. On a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle. On the LEFT side, right the word “Direction” on the top of the page; on the RIGHT side, right the word “Action” on the top of the page.
2. Under “Direction” list all of the values that your business operates within. Examples are things like “excellent customer service”, “quick turn-around”, “quality services”, “strong relationships”, “innovative products”, etc.
3. Now draw a line from each value in the Direction side over to the Action side. For each value, list the what you need to be doing to make sure your values are met and, therefore, are moving in the direction you have chosen.

From here, you should have a very clear idea if the way you are spending you time is worthwhile or not. If you are “walking just to get somewhere” or if you have control and leadership over your business.

A change in direction is more than ok.

Over time your values may change and that’s ok! In fact, that’s the main role of the Leader is to determine the values, the direction, to ensure it is right for the company. Then the Manager figures out how to most efficiently work within the Leader’s pre-determined direction. Finally, the Technician executes the plan.

Do this exercise regularly to make sure your work reflects your values.

How about you? Which role have you been operating in most?