Your business plan – if you have one — is black and white.

If you follow your plan step-by-step, you’ll be successful.  That sounds amazingly simple, just like they teach in business schools.  Sounds like a plan you want to follow.

WRONG!  It doesn’t work.

Business schools teach plans, case studies, a perfect strategy, which combined give you a solution to solve any problem.

Reality is different.

It is different because plans are more than paragraphs on paper.  There is something you cannot put on paper.  

You have to deal with people. 

That makes black and white plans gray.  The simple becomes complex when you throw people into the mix.

Strategy problems become leadership problems.

Almost all business problems are really leadership problems.

Almost any plan will succeed if you are leading effectively.  You can’t be a dictator and just yell, “follow the plan.”

It’s possible that your plan isn’t all that important. 

What’s important is your mission.

For you to stand in front of your people and shout, “Mission accomplished,” your people need to know your mission and be committed to accomplishing it.

Everyone around you needs to know what your mission is and why you’re doing what you are doing. 

What are your intentions?

• Explain your intentions so they understand them.
• Explain their roles, so they understand them.
• Recognize them for the work they do, because you appreciate them for doing it.

They’ll understand your mission and your attitude because you’re living it.

Any plan will work when you lead.

That sounds so simple that it sounds ridiculous.  But that’s the truth behind most business breakthroughs.

Want to fix your business plan?

Start leading.  The better the leader is, the better the business plan will be.

______________

What are your thoughts?  Do you agree or disagree?  Leave your comments in the box below. 

Click here  NOW to sign up for my free newsletter!

You can stay ahead in your career by brushing up on each of these 24 vital skills.

Whether you’re seeking your first job, a corporate executive, an entrepreneur, or a business owner the business skills you should master are the same.

1. Self-Confidence: Nobody will have a higher opinion of you than you have of yourself.  To get others to believe in you, you must believe in you.
2. Positive Attitude: When times are tough—and they will be—your positive attitude will boost your morale and the morale of everyone you influence.
3. Listening: Being a good listener is a sigh of respect and patience for others.  It arguably is the number on people skill.
4. Communication: Concise writing, careful listening, and effective speaking are things you cannot hide.
5. Analytical: Develop the ability to see the big picture.  Assess the situation, gather information, seek multiple perspectives, and apply sound judgement in making your decisions.
6. Computer/Technical: If you don’t have these skills, get them or you will be left behind.
7. Adaptability:  Show your value by demonstrating a willingness to learn new skills and assume new responsibilities.
8. People Skills: Work—anywhere really—is all about people.  Learn to understand, accept, and get along with different personalities.
9. Leadership/Management: Whether you’ve advanced to a management position or not, your leadership skills are important because they demonstrate initiative.  Don’t wait to be told to do a job or take on a responsibility.  A willingness to take the lead or solve a problem will get you noticed.
10. Planning/Organization: Demonstrate your ability to take a task from beginning to end and finish it on time.
11. Problem-Solving: Problem solving is important at all levels of an organization
12. Teamwork: Valuable employees are team players committed tot he organization’s goals.
13. Loyalty: Loyalty cuts both ways top to bottom, bottom to top.  Every one feels better knowing who has their back.
14. Integrity: This tops the list of personal values sought by both employers and employees.
15. Flexibility: Be willing to leave your comfort zone.
16. Dedication: Show you care.  People don’t care much about what you know until they see how much you care.
17. Reliability: Prove you can be counted on.
18. Professionalism: This covers a host of behaviors from being fair and responsible to never being petty.
19. Willingness to Learn: Jobs constantly change.  Adopt the I.C.A.N. attitude: Improvement. Constant And Never-ending.
20. Ability to Work Independently: A counter part of teamwork.  Being a self-starter who performs well with minimal supervision distinguishes you in the workplace.
21. Respect for Others: The way you treat people from bottom to top reflects on you.  Treat everyone the same, with respect and courtesy.
22. Patience: It’s easy to forget others when you’re concerned for yourself, but show respect for others by being patient.
23. Willingness to Conduct Research: Go the extra mile to learn all you can, then question and verify what you’ve learned.
24. Time Management: Effective time management ensures you will meet deadlines and goals.  Avoid the tyranny of the urgent.  Work on the important things, not just the urgent

______________

What are your thoughts?  Do you agree or disagree?  Leave your comments in the box below. 

Register for my free newsletter!