sighnov

The Captain of the Ship
The business leader is the captain
steering the ship to get the entire
organization to its destination. This
takes strength of character and an
iron will that will not compromise
when faced with less than desir-
able decisions. The captain is not
swayed emotionally when having to
let go of an employee, confronting
the leadership team, or other of the
less desirable yet necessary deci-
sions that need to be made.
The business leader does not have
the option to make decisions that
will not ultimately support the
mission. W hen the business leader
allows him or herself to be dis-
tracted, it erodes the organization’s
foundation and any opportunity to
help the enterprise achieve busi-
ness greatness.
A Common Leadership Pitfall
The most common example that
I have seen that distracts small
business owners - is the decision to
transform the organization into the
business owner’s personal pock-
etbook . This is when decisions
are made to provide the business
owner and the family members
with perks that create deficits in the
financial foundation of the busi-
ness.
Providing family members with
cars, health benefits, cash bonuses,
excessive salaries, down payments
on homes, etc., which have abso-
lutely no business purpose - are the
usual things that weigh the organi-
zation down and creates obstacles
to fulfilling the organization’s
purpose.
Also, this preferential treatment
comes on the backs of the sweat
and toil of the employees, which
leads to resentment toward their
leaders as well as loss of respect for
their leadership.
Eventually, because of changes
in the economy, or other circum-
stance, there is a meltdown, and the
SMS SIGH TO 45813 AND STAND A CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF THE THREE BOOKS TITLED
FORGOTTEN FUNDAMENTALS WRITTEN BY SIBUSISO NKOSI.
business owner and the family learn
a hard lesson.
Conclusion
It is the business leader’s ability to
stay on course that separates them
from every other person, and makes
it possible for the organization to
achieve greatness. They refuse to be
distracted from the organization’s
mission even though it results in
short term sacrifices, conflicts, and
inconveniences.
Yet, their
determination
to uphold their
mission and vi-
sion, in spite of
personal need,
will propel the
organization
to greater and
greater heights
of effectiveness
and higher levels of greatness.
�����������������
�����������������������������
����������������������������������
����������������������������������
�������������������������������������
������������������������������������
����������������������������������
���������������������������������
�����������������������������������
�������������������������������������������� 29
��������������������������������