As a small-business owner, you must lead your organization. Your role as leader can make or break your business. This role carries responsibilities, and you must demonstrate your ability to live up to these responsibilities on a daily basis. You should keep the main responsibilities of a leader in mind as you start each day and as you navigate the demands of conducting your business.

Inspiration and Motivation

As a leader, you must get others to do the work necessary for operating your business. You have to drop the idea of doing everything yourself and motivate others to complete tasks and reach objectives. Delegating some of your duties is as important as inspiring your employees to give their best and work toward objectives diligently. Your employees will gain a sense of purpose this way, and you will be able to check off some of the goals and priorities that you set up for your company.

Setting an Example

You don’t always have a podium and a microphone to speak as a leader. Sometimes you set an example through your hard work, dedication and optimism. When employees see you meeting with professionals, heading meetings, making certain invoices are paid, following through on objectives, effectively prioritizing and demonstrating unwavering reliability, they know you are an example to live up to. If you appear worried, they will worry. If you seem unsure, they will be unsure. If you act decisively, they will make better decisions. Your employees watch you constantly, so set a good example.

Communicating Vision

Your vision organizes all of your employees’ efforts. You must let your workforce know what you want to achieve in the long term, and you must explain how their daily activities relate to that long-term vision. Don’t leave the direction of your company up to employees, because they look to you for that direction.

Setting Company Priorities

Break down your vision into a series of objectives so you know what has to get done before you can move onto the next objective. Employees might work hard, but if they work on the wrong tasks, you waste time and money getting them back on track. By setting priorities, you organize your employees’ work and give them a sense of orderly direction.

Seeking Solutions

No matter how strong your vision and how clear your priorities, you will encounter unexpected problems. You must convey the conviction that every problem has a solution. Either solve the problems or delegate problem-solving to responsible individuals. This will prevent demoralization when problems arise. Give your newfound problems a new perspective. Present them as challenges that need to be overcome effectively. Demonstrate that you expect these challenges to come along at any given moment and that you have confidence that you and your employees will find a solution for them.