10 Essential Leadership Skills
For Female Entrepreneurs

By Allyn Cutts, President, Cutts Group, llc

"The task of a leader is to get people from where they are to where they have not been." - Henry Kissinger

Sounds simple, doesn't it. It can be, if you have well developed skills in these areas:

1) Big Picture Thinking

Can you define and shape the vision for your company? Do you see developing trends? As a leader having "peripheral," as well as long-distance, vision is essential. You're driving the strategy of the entire organization, so you better have a clear idea of the destination.

As an entrepreneur, nothing happens in your organization unless you make it happen. As a leader, everything is your responsibility and concern. Make your vision for what you want to accomplish as focused and deeply detailed as possible. Then enthusiastically convey that vision, in all its rich detail, to every stakeholder.

2) Communication

Do you have the communication skills to clearly convey the vision and direction for the company? Being a good communicator means keeping people informed, even when it's unpleasant to do so, in a way that's relevant to each person.

You need to use language to shape and control outcomes. That means communicating with each individual in a way that reflects his or her personal style. Can you do that?

Do you recognize and understand the basic behavioral styles and their communication patterns? As a leader you must be able to effortlessly use the full power of language to clarify, motivate, influence, persuade and inspire the full spectrum of behavioral styles.

Good assessment tools can readily identify the styles for each of your employees with concise information for the most effective way to move them to the desired actions.

3) Risk-taking

Are you willing to plunge into unexplored territory? This is difficult for many females. In the past, women were programmed to avoid criticism. Old paradigms still influence some women into thinking they can't make it with anything less than perfect results.

With the concept of "perfect performance" hanging over his or her heads, anyone would tend to be cautious. Women often hesitate to take steps they perceive as risky until they have all the data in hand, and plenty of time to evaluate alternatives.

Entrepreneurs have a leadership role, however, and must be willing to act quickly. Innovative risk taking is critical in today's rapidly changing global economy. How much of a risk taker are you?

4) Cooperation

Do you place the success of the project and the success of the entire team above personal interests? It isn't easy to keep personal agendas and ambitions in check, but that's exactly what you must to move your team forward to the desired outcome for the goal.

The most effective way to do this is by using your influencing skills rather than your position of authority. Be quick to show appreciation for everyone's effort and contribution to the project. Positive feedback and appreciation are excellent motivators.

To borrow a principle from Lao-Tsu, when the best leader's work is complete, the people around her should say, "We did it ourselves."

5) Self-Knowledge

Do you have the ability to see yourself in a realistic way at all times? Do you know and understand your innate inner strengths? Do you fully acknowledge your weakness and limits? It's time to draw up an honest, objective list.

Let's face it, when you stop trying to be perfect, you encourage others to fill in the gaps and carry more of the burden. Encouraging subordinates to use their strengths and resources to compensate for your limitations nurtures a sense of community-and it reinforces skills sets. This is a good starting point for building a broad base of potential leaders within your organization.

Always maintain a good blueprint of your strengths and weaknesses through updated evaluations and testing.

6) Clearly Defined Values

Do you know where you stand on issues of integrity, honesty, and quality of workmanship, customer care, personal responsibility and accountability? Do you know in advance how you'll handle complaints, problems or other people. If not, testing for values and attitudes can help you develop a set of core values that are congruent with your beliefs and principles.

7) Realistic Optimism

Are you grounded in the reality and challenges of "now" even while remaining visionary about the future? Do you talk about problems as dead ends? Or as doorways to opportunities? It's your job to look beyond current or short-term problems to the big picture.

Be open and honest regarding the current status of the business and projects, but remember, even in the direst circumstances, your positive outlook can encourage and energize everyone; inspiring others to overcome barriers that would otherwise block accomplishment.

8) Discipline

The toughest place to stay disciplined is in a fast-moving start-up. Things can be chaotic in the first five years of a business, so self-discipline is even more critical during this formative time to bring structure to the emerging business.

If in the beginning, you can only achieve strict discipline in one area, make it in the area of reviewing and evaluating progress, on a daily or weekly basis, with your entire team.

9) Curiosity

The willingness to learn new things, to continuously seek knowledge will help you see more options for every situation. Knowledge, keeps you well positioned to take advantage of every unplanned possibility that comes into your path.

Even though an unexpected opportunity may seem like a detour in the short run, if you're prepared and know what you're doing, it can turn into a shortcut to growth or a route to an entirely new and better solution.

10) Perseverance

Stick with your vision. Never give up.

Women naturally think in terms of building relationships. This ability plays a significant role in any entrepreneurial success. Women better understand that personal success is dependent on the support of others; that effective leadership is built on helping other people reach their goals.

While women's leadership styles are often more effective than men's for motivating and inspiring people, women often become stymied by:

• Reluctance to take risks
• Rescuing and mothering problem people
• Getting mired down in details or "process"
• Displaying emotions too openly

The good news is, with the right information, you can overcome these four roadblocks and reach your full potential as a successful female entrepreneur. Comprehensive competency evaluations, like the Managerial Assessment of Proficiency (MAP) and Performance PLUS can help you measure where you are and help you get to where you want to be.

If you’re looking for a turnkey, proven successful system, MAP and Performance PLUS can help. Both are comprehensive system that utilizes the most advanced, accurate and in-depth diagnostic, assessment and measurement procedures and tools available. For more information, contact the Cutts Group at (800) 482-7280 within US, or (610) 437-4106 or visit us on the web at http://www.cuttsgroup.com.

The Cutts Group partners with clients who are committed to continuous growth. We provide the organizational development, team building, employee selection, executive coaching, and sales training resources our clients demand for measurable results and return on investment. Satisfaction and investment are always guaranteed, always.