#30 As The Boss, You Are The Business Barometer
May 29, 2008
As the boss, the business owner, the manager, the partner- whatever position you hold, there is no doubt that the person at the top sets the mood for the culture within an organisation.
Whether you are uptight, stressed out, serious, angry or bored, this feeling will be reflected in those around you. If you don’t care about the business, how can you expect your staff to? For this reason alone, the wellbeing of your business is intrinsically linked to your wellbeing, and your state of mind is a critical component in this process.
One interesting observation I have made on the health and wellbeing of a business is that if the person at the top smokes, for instance, there will generally be more smokers in the business. If the person at the top drinks a lot, there will be more heavy drinkers in the business. I don’t know whether this is a case of like attracting like or whether certain trends are simply characteristic of certain industries, but it is an effect I have seen in many businesses. And it works the same way on an attitude level-a business run by someone who is miserable tends to attract miserable staff (and often miserable customers, too).
Of course, the best part of this effect is that it tends to work equally well in the positive. Businesses run by a person with self-respect, a positive and energetic attitude, and a ‘can do’ philosophy tend to attract staff with the same outlook on life. People who like to have fun at work attract other people who like to have fun at work. What an amazing opportunity this represents.
The key message here is to understand that if you are the top of your immediate food chain, it is important that you have a positive, energetic attitude to life and business so that you can attract like-minded people and set the culture for your business. These like-minded people will in turn make your business more successful, and your life will get easier and the day-to-day pressures you feel will be reduced.
What can I do today?
On your way to work take a moment to focus on your view of the day ahead. What message do you want to give to your staff and customers, remembering that they will be a reflection of you? Visualise how your interactions will look and feel, then make them a reality.
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By N2H
