All business owners want to see their business grow. Darren Buddemeyer, the CEO of DynaFlex, says the way to do that is to become a better leader at work.
Successful leadership at the top trickles down to create successful leaders at all levels of the company. From that comes happier and more productive employees who give it their all.
In the end, becoming a better leader at work directly affects your business’ bottom line. Here are five fascinating leadership tips that will help your business grow.
1. Serve as a Role Model
“Do as I say, not as I do” is a tongue-in-cheek mantra that many parents jokingly say to their children. Unfortunately, it’s one that sometimes finds its way into the workplace as well.
If you want to be a good leader at work, you need to lead by example. Backing up your words with actions emphasizes the importance of what you say. It also lends credibility to your role in a powerful position and makes those around you want to follow suit.
2. Create an Inclusive Environment
Business leaders shouldn’t rule as dictators. They should want others to be involved in every step of the process, including decision making on crucial items in the business.
By creating an inclusive environment at work, you’ll be doing just that. By making others feel valued, you’ll be encouraging them to work harder for the company. When they see that you want their ideas and feedback — on a continuous basis — they will feel more invested in the company’s success.
3. Be Open and Transparent
As a business leader, there are some things that need to stay behind closed doors. Not every employee at every level of the company should be privy to all information, of course.
That being said, it’s a bad idea to create a secretive environment in the workplace. In other words, be as open, honest, and transparent with people as you possibly can. Tell them what you’re able to tell them, and tell them when you’re not able to fill them in more.
The same goes for your business partners, clients, suppliers, and other colleagues. When you extend the same open and honest lines of communication with people outside your company, those within it are likely to model that behavior.
4. Get to Know Your Team
Employees can easily feel disconnected from CEOs who tuck themselves away in a corner office, only to be seen or heard when they walk through the hallways. If you want to become a better leader, you need to get to know the people on your team.
You don’t have to have a drink with every one of them after hours, but you should build actual personal connections with the people who are working hard for your business. Understanding what motivates them in life outside the office will help you create an environment that will keep them motivated in it.
5. Allow Others to Grow
Darren Buddemeyer says one of the best things you can do to become a better leader at work is to allow others to grow. You should always encourage upward movement and provide all the tools and resources necessary to make that happen.
Don’t view other people as competition. View them as essential cogs in the wheel that keeps the business running. If you do this, you’ll improve your leadership skills and help your business grow.
About Darren Buddemeyer
Darren Buddemeyer is the CEO of DynaFlex – a leader in orthodontic products, orthodontic appliances, and dental sleep medicine device manufacturing. He first started with DynaFlex doing odd jobs at the age of 14, and it’s no understatement to say he took the company from very humble beginnings to a powerhouse in the dental industry. Now, as the head of the company, Darren’s mission is to help doctors around the world fulfill their mission: To enhance their patients’ smiles and quality of sleep.
