7 Ways To Improve Small Business Leadership

Discover the secret of avoiding the

BIG 5 MISTAKES in business.

Downloaded the FREE report!

Small business leadership doesn’t have to be esoteric. And it doesn’t have to follow big companies. It can be simple. One Houston small business owner did not want to invest at all in leadership. He wanted no part in it–even at the cost of improving his business. 

He said: “I know how big companies waste tons of money on vague ideas that no one gets. They brand it leadership training. And I’ve been through the grind. I’m so happy to be a small business owner now. I don’t have to deal with that any more.”

Here are 7 traits for your emerging leaders to improve their influence on the business. And it’s easy to grasp.

1) RECOGNIZE HOW PEOPLE DECIDE AND WORK IN GROUPS

Know your people. Talk to them and know their concerns. Show how the company performed, have a practical view of the market. 

Listen to your people to sense what culture drives them. When people aren't asking about incentives, something isn't working.

 

Question if people are in jobs for too long. Bring fresh ideas to drive the business and help people decide.

2) DEVELOP PRACTICAL VIEW OF SELF AND THE FIRM

For business success each year, study the competition. Ask the right questions. 

Have you increased relative market share for products? How does our performance rank against their increase? Are new competitors now in our market space? Talk to people. Engage, learn, help people decide and act.

3) IMPROVE RESULTS USING TOP 3 GOALS

Using just 3 goals makes tasks clearer. Keep business message simple so people can break them down and do them in order. 

Don’t just give people actions and leave them. 

Engage, guide and inspire people. And paint their success story for all. Then reward the heroes who made it happen.

4) FOLLOW THROUGH ON PROGRAMS

Make sure you let your team know you’re serious about your new plans for the business. Assign actions according to your team’s skills. Make it clear what you expect and when.

Your team will thank you and work diligently towards common goals.

5) REWARD PEOPLE ON PERFORMANCE

Connect pay to results you expect in the business. Do it early so people know how their work affects overall results. 

Don’t dodge giving people bonuses, if their work produced positive results. And you’ll end keeping your people loyal. And you’ll keep them far enough from your competitors.

6) COACH PEOPLE SO THEY REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL

Make time to coach your teams so they compete better. Spend 25 to 40% of your time coaching people. Keep your doors open to new conversations. Lasting leaders excel as teachers.

7) UNDERSTAND OWN STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Take an assessment. Be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses. Develop emotional courage to tell someone what you think of his or her work. 

Be humble. People will forgive you for your mistakes if you admit early. And you’ll become the respected leader you always cared to be.

Written by Suresh Iyengar, P.E., President, Business Unit Execution LLC––“Explosive Business Coaching Houston Results For Small Business”. Want even faster results? Are you ready to discover how? Call 281.410.5375 and speak to your Profitability Coach Houston

8) JP SERVICES

  • CEO: Justin Peter

  • 3-year growth: 327% (Inc. 5000)

  • Revenue: $6.8m

  • Website: jpservices.com

Offers pressure testing and pipeline maintenance services for the oil and gas industry.

Excellent website showcases services in a compelling way. Just the right number of menu items makes navigation easy. A prominent “call-to-action” could serve this firm better.

9) ATOM SOLUTIONS

  • CEO: Firoz Jhaver

  • 3-year growth: 319% (Inc. 5000)

  • Revenue: $4.4m

  • Website:  whoisatom.com

Offers business IT consulting and services, including ETRM-CTRM software implementation, application development and SOX compliance audits.

Website shows off attractive colors and an artistic slider. Simpler language describing top services could serve the firm better. More prominent “call-to-action” could help as well.

10) RICE AND GARDNER CONSULTANTS

  • CEO: James Rice

  • 3-year growth: 296% (Inc. 5000)

  • Revenue: $8m

  • Website: ricegardner.com

Offers program development services including program management, building commissioning, MEP engineering and construction support for clients including cities, K-12, higher education, institutions and hospitals.

Excellent website overall. Some other pages answering “why us” could serve the firm better.

11) SYMPLR

  • CEO: Rick Pleczko

  • 3-year growth: 266% (Inc. 5000)

  • Revenue: $27.2m

  • Website: symplr.com

Makes software that helps health care businesses mitigate risk and ensure compliance.

The firm has an interesting website. It makes visitors engage using chats, memberships and a video. However, the video breaks up during views.

12) KASTECH

  • CEO: Sridhar Patibandla

  • 3-year growth: 233% (Inc. 5000)

  • Revenue: $11.8m

  • Website: kastechssg.com

Adds IT staff and offers ERP, database, cloud, security, and mobility services.

Fewer menus on the website could do better. Different fonts could improve readability. Content management could ease navigation.

13) GLOBAL HEALING CENTER

Develops, makes and sells green-living lifestyle, health and nutritional products.

It’s a well-designed website. It has a simple layout to navigate. Excellent “call-to-action” shows the user what to do –subscribe, learn more or buy.

14) MANERI AGRAZ ENTERPRISES

  • CEO: John Maneri

  • 3-year growth: 222% (Inc. 5000)

  • Revenue: $6.9m

  • Website: osram.us

Designs and installs lighting that saves energy for buildings.

Impressive lighting video welcomes you to their website. I didn’t see a “call-to-action”. Having one set of menus could help visitors.

15) POETIC SYSTEMS

  • CEO: Matthew Hager

  • 3-year growth: 216% (Inc. 5000)

  • Revenue: $2.2m

  • Website: poeticsystems.com

Helps startups solve problems through user-focused design.

On coming to the website, I felt it was a website designed for website designers. For example, the vertical menu looked like the screen one would see for a missing domain. A short description could help the visitor know if he or she is in the right place.

16) SILICUS TECHNOLOGIES (ACQUIRED)

  • CEO: Unknown

  • 3-year growth: XX% (Inc. 5000)

  • Revenue: $unknown

  • Website: acquired by another company since this blog was first written

Offers software development and consulting services so businesses work more efficiently. Identifies and plans business led by technology, developing solutions and managing investments

17) GATE PREMIER SOLUTIONS

  • CEO: Unknown

  • 3-year growth: XX% (Inc. 5000)

  • Revenue: $unknown

  • Website: acquired by another company since this blog was first written

Offers software development and consulting services so businesses work more efficiently. Identifies and plans business led by technology, developing solutions and managing investments

18) 3S BUSINESS CORPORATION

  • CEO: Sri Tayi

  • 3-year growth: 196% (Inc. 5000)

  • Revenue: $12m

  • Website: 3sbc.com

Offers software and consulting services to help clients plan, fulfill, and preserve their technology investments.

I checked out their website. It shows an interesting slider and captures your mind. Menus focus on projects, services and other items. A different menu could improve message to visitors.

19) WILLBANKS & ASSOCIATES

  • CEO: Trey Willbanks

  • 3-year growth: 181% (Inc. 5000)

  • Revenue: $16.4m

  • Website: willbanksinc.com

Offers commercial and industrial heating and hot water equipment sales, installation, and service.

I found a clear website with a message explaining Willbanks’ services. But it serves familiar customers better-ones who know what they want or who could refer others to the site.

20) NIGHTLIGHT PEDIATRIC URGENT CARE

Provides after-hours urgent care for infants, children and adolescents during the absence of pediatricians.

I visited the website. Though the slider technology seems overused, it’s a simple site. It’s a bit hard to notice the “testimonials”–they slide in and out before you know it. For users familiar with this business, it’s an effective site. 

Written by Suresh Iyengar, P.E., President, Business Unit Execution LLC––“Explosive Business Coaching Houston Results For Small Business”. Want even faster results? Are you ready to discover how? Call 281.410.5375 and speak to your Profitability Coach Houston

Suresh Iyengar

RELATED ARTICLES

©2024 Business Unit Execution LLC. All Rights Reserved.