As I pointed out last week, the construction industry is populated largely by entrepreneurial firms. Confidence and independence are the traits that cause entrepreneurs to start their own business. However, when construction firms grow into mid-size or larger industrial concerns the confidence and independence that got them going is not enough to keep them successful. At some point in the growth of every entrepreneurial enterprise the organization must change. It must become more sophisticated. At these junctures more authority must be delegated, more complex systems and procedures will be required, and more sophisticated people may be needed to handle them. Most entrepreneurs seem to instinctively follow a “command and control” approach. However, as an organization expands it requires delegation and some release of control. Only contractors who can grow beyond being the founder, owner, and boss to become the leader will be able to handle this kind of substantial growth.
A Leader
What’s the difference between being a boss and being a leader? True leaders understand that they don’t win the game, their team does. It is their mission to help every member of their team become a winner. Every great leader in history has displayed some degree of the following five-character traits:
Confidence
Entrepreneurs and leaders always start with a great degree of self-confidence. Circumstances and experiences in their early life combine to imbue confidence into them that they can get the job done. Most of the contractors I have known over the years never had any doubt that they could get their own business going and that it would succeed. This same self-confidence also made them risk takers. Without being brash or reckless, they seemed to relish evaluating risk and taking it head on.
Vision
Leaders always have a vision of success in their heads. They are incapable of jumping onto anyone else’s bandwagon. They are compelled to follow their own muse, and they can communicate their vision to those they inspire to jump onto their bandwagon. This is a unique and rare talent that all true leaders possess.
Humility
The difference between bosses and leaders is that leaders understand that they need help in realizing their vision. This humility engenders respect for the skills and contributions that valued employees make. It is the glue that binds an organization together through the loyalty that comes with mutual respect. This is how true leaders inspire loyalty.
Empathy
Leaders understand their employees and care about their individual success. This is, again, a unique talent only found in true leaders. It is what we call empathy. When employees believe that their leader knows what they need and intends to provide it, they respond with loyalty that borders on devotion.
Integrity
Integrity is the mother of trust. Great leaders always do what they say they’re going to do. Handling employees with complete unquestioned integrity instills trust and inspires them to reciprocate with integrity of their own. Imagine a company that functions at this moral level. It would be hard to beat.
In Leaders’ Words
“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
“Leadership is unlocking people’s potential to become better.”
“The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.”
“Leaders are close enough to relate to others–and ahead to motivate them.”
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.”
“Leaders don’t necessarily do great things. Their people do great things.”
