Herb Kimble discusses 5 simple strategies for becoming a better leader.

1. 5 Strategies for
Managing your
Business Better
Herb Kimble | Metis Apax Founder & CEO

2. Leadership is Key
Are you looking to improve
your business
management skills? While
the success of a business
is very much the result of
business strategies,
marketing, and finance, it
ultimately all comes down
to leadership. Effective
leaders run successful
companies.
How can you become a
better leader, and in turn,
run a better business?

3. 1.) Connect with Employees
Gain the trust and respect of your
employees by becoming a leader
they can relate to. Show you’re
invested in the well-being of your
employees by taking the time to
ask them how they’re doing,
congratulate them on important
personal and professional
milestones, and work with your
HR department to coordinate
company-wide events for team
building or engagement outside of
the workplace.
The more time you invest in
building meaningful relationships
with your employees, the more
invested they’ll be in your
company’s goals and objectives.

4. 2.) Admit Your Faults
As a leader, there will be times
when you’ll make poor judgment
calls. Rather than moving
forward, take responsibility for
your misstep in a public manner
and apologize to co-workers.
Whether through an email or at a
meeting, any admission of your
mistakes will help create a more
positive, accepting work
environment. Employees also
won’t feel as intimidated when
they make mistakes of their own.
Taking responsibility also
communicates that you’re just as
willing to own up to company
successes as you are company
missteps.

5. 3.) Emphasize Innovation
Creativity and innovation are
essential elements of a
company’s success and
sustainability, but not all
companies effectively find
ways to foster this type of
growth in the workplace.
To emphasize innovation in
the workplace, consider
increasing company-focused
team meetings, hiring a more
diverse pool of employees,
communicating a more
relaxed style of leadership,
and rewarding employees
who demonstrate a passion
for what they do.

6. 4.) Be a Mentor
Encourage meaningful growth in
your employees by acting not just
as a boss, but as a mentor.
Employees that demonstrate
promising potential for growth can
benefit immensely from additional
guidance, as mentorship can help
improve an employee’s skill sets
and increase their efficiency.
By spending time mentoring
promising employees, you’ll be able
to create a pipeline of talent that is
similarly aligned with your own
philosophies and understandings
of company objectives.
Employees that receive mentorship
are also more likely to maintain
better attitudes about their jobs
because they know company
leadership is invested in their
growth.

7. 5.) Listen Actively
Active listening is a key skill for
leaders to employ on a daily
basis. When leaders show that
they’re genuinely interested in
what their employees have to
say, employees feel more
comfortable making
suggestions, which in turn
improves the collaboration
process.
Show you’re actively listening
by asking thoughtful questions
about specific points, and as a
general rule encourage more
open dialogue in the workplace.
Active listening also helps
leaders better understand their
own performance and identify
areas of improvement.

8. Find more business management advice from Herb
Kimble by visiting herbkimble.net.