Join master business coach Michelle Landis, as she strives to create success and abundance for every business owner with the ActionCOACH method of focus, accountability, and results. Visit our weekly Q & A session as Coach Michelle tackles real questions on a variety of issues - and provides you with answers that will BRING RESULTS for your company!

Question of the Week: “I am trying to be a much more effective leader for my business team. How do I bring the team on board with our goals and vision?”

Coach Michelle: Every good business leader is in essence, an artist. You may not be able to put brush to paper. But you must be able to sculpt -in some fashion - a dream for others, through words, through action, and by example. The vision you paint must evoke feelings of excitement and emotion in your employees and other team members in the same manner that a beautiful piece of art would. And like a relished painting, this emotional image should hang on the wall of your business for every member to look at and draw upon daily, helping to keep them on board, focused, and working toward the same common goal.

No matter how small your business is, creating that feeling of positive forward movement is critical to continued growth and success. It is the essence of effective leadership for any business owner or company CEO.

According to author Steven Covey, “what we are communicates far more eloquently than anything we say or do.” I find this to be quite well said - for putting a good face on your business and projecting a consistently positive image is a major step in rallying your troops and customers around you.

Here are a few things to ask yourself when pondering how to bring everybody in your company - and especially customers - on board with you.

1. Have you clearly articulated your vision and mission to every person on your staff or anyone who is contracted to do work for you? Is that mission statement part of every working day?
2. Are you setting a good, healthy example for your team as far as work ethic and habits are concerned? How do you react to stressful situations? There is no way a team can stay calm, cool, and collected if their leader is not.
3. Do you create an environment of accountability in your business? If you are demanding the very best out of yourself, you must accept no excuses from your employees either.
4. What is your relationship with your team? You really need to ask yourself - do they trust their leader? Have you ever given them cause not to? Team building strategies are an excellent way to bring trust into the work environment.
5. Does your team approach and group dynamic extend to outside resources or independent contractors within your business realm? The best type of leader will bring ALL external staff on board with the goals and mission you wish to present. Never forget to develop interpersonal relationships with everyone involved with your business undertakings. Great relationships with external staff are an even greater way to network in small business.

In summary, if you truly want to be the most effective leader you can be, strive hard to create that positive image, enthusiasm, work ethic, and forward momentum - and then get your staff on board with it. The best possible products and the best possible customer service begin with an upbeat synergy created by employees in a happy workplace.

About the Author, Michelle Landis

Michelle is a certified Master Business Coach and owner of ActionCOACH of Greater Lehigh Valley/Berks. She is an educator and a business professional with over 25 years experience in the business world running both small and medium sized businesses. She has an extensive background in education, executive management, sales & marketing, operations and entrepreneurial pursuits that include international consulting in China, extensive teaching and educational endeavors as well as executive leadership roles with General Electric, Dun & Bradstreet and Armstrong World Industries. Her leadership skills have delivered over $58 million to the bottom line.  Get a BUSINESS HEALTH CHECK with Michelle or connect with Michelle on FACEBOOK, join her on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter.