Early in my career, there were many times I didn\u2019t have a handle on the true state of business. As information makes its way to leaders, it gets filtered. You don\u2019t receive the bad news you need to properly course correct. Especially if culture is out of line. To accurately monitor the health of your business, you can\u2019t rely on internal reports. You'll need to get intentional about tracking down the truth.<\/p>\n
One way to improve your understanding of business health is to grow in self-awareness as a leader. This can take place through reading leadership books, investing in coaching calls, and completing self-assessments.<\/p>\n
To help you pursue health, my team and I created a free tool called the Business Health Assessment<\/em><\/a>. It\u2019s built around seven pillars. I recently recorded a live coaching call with a business owner from Chattanooga, Tenn. We discussed his Business Health Assessment<\/em> results and zoomed in on key areas needing improvement. To apply those coaching lessons to your own work, listen to our call here<\/a>.<\/p>\n For a quick overview on the Business Health Assessment<\/em>, view the 7 pillars of business health below.<\/p>\n Many people spend too much time trying to distill a vision into a clever tagline when what they really need is a clear statement. Your vision should be concrete and specific. State it as though it already exists. This adds power and intensity. Then keep the vision visible. You\u2019re the voice of the vision. If you don\u2019t give voice to it, no one will.<\/p>\n Focus is the application of vision. This may require pruning. Some leaders view this as a step back, but in reality, it helps you leap forward. Focus is as much about choosing what not to do as it is about choosing what you\u2019ll pursue.<\/p>\n Recruit team players based on character, competence, chemistry, and conviction. As a leader, it\u2019s your job to call out greatness in others. Show them what they can\u2019t see. Set standards. When they miss the mark, acknowledge their underperformance and remind them they are capable of more. High standards attract A-players. Expect results and get results.<\/p>\n Bad culture destroys business. Get serious about culture by writing down a set of core values. Let these values drive what you reward. Get clear about what\u2019s not tolerated. Then make sure you follow your own rules. Leaders\u2019 commitment to company values will trickle down the org chart. Build trust and engage employees by investing in your culture.<\/p>\n\t\t1. Vision<\/h3>\n
2. Focus<\/h3>\n
3. Team<\/h3>\n
4. Culture<\/h3>\n