Five questions for great leaders

One of the great strengths of entrepreneurs is knowing what they want. Unfortunately, they don't always know how to go about getting what they want most.

For instance, most entrepreneurs want to surround themselves with great people in their organization, to do quality work, provide efficient customer service and occasionally come up with great ideas for moving their business forward. But most entrepreneurs don't know how to attract people like that.

In a recent blogpost at bnet.com, William C. Taylor, a co-founder of Fast Company magazine and author of the book Practically Radical, offers five questions you need to ask yourself if you really want to build a great team. Answering them honestly will help you determine whether or not you are currently capable of attracting A-plus talent and winning their loyalty. The bonus benefit from answering the questions candidly is that if you don't score well in any of these areas, they provide a clear roadmap for getting it right.
Here are Taylor’s five questions for would-be leaders:

1. Why should great people want to work with you? “Great people want to feel like they’re part of something greater than themselves,” says Taylor. “It’s the leader’s job to keep everyone energized and determined in a business environment that remains lacklustre and uncertain.”

2. Do you know a great person when you see one? Taylor points out that great leaders spend a lot of time finding the people who will fit best into their organization. I've seen that myself. Razor Suleman, of Toronto-based I Love Rewards, puts candidates through a gruelling selection process, then a one-week boot camp. Finally, just before their first official work week begins, he offers them a gift to encourage them to quit if they have any concerns that they're not going to fit in and excel. It’s a lot of work, but it can pay for itself through improved retention and the joy of working with motivated people who truly want to work with you.

3. Can you find great people who aren’t looking for you? As Taylor points out, the best performers are probably working in jobs they like and aren't looking for new ones. “These people may be outside your company, or they may be in a different department from inside your company, but they won’t work for you unless you work hard to persuade them to join.”

4. Are you great at teaching great people how your team or company works and wins? To turn your company into a team with shared focus and goals, Taylor recommends sharpening employees’ business instincts by sharing financial results. But you also have to create shared understanding: “Can smart people work on making everyone else in the organization smarter about the business?”

5. Are you as tough on yourself as you are on your people? Great people have high expectations of others as well as themselves, says Taylor. “The ultimate test for people in positions of authority is to demonstrate the same values, attitudes and mindsets they want to see from the people who report to them.”

If you see any need for self-improvement in any of these areas—well, that’s what a New Year is for. And if you think you don't need to improve in any of these areas—please re-read these five points. And be honest this time.