We have created a certain mythology around the idea of a ‘leader’. From TV shows to internal conversations in insurance agencies we talk about leadership like it’s a magical, ethereal skill above mere mortals. We’ve created the idea that some people are leaders and some aren’t. That’s rarely true. Very few of us are born as great leaders and all of us have the potential to be a great leader.
As an agency owner, you probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about who is and who isn’t a great leader. You’re too busy trying to be one. However, as you begin to plan the long-term future of the agency beyond your tenure, you will find yourself looking for leaders within the agency. You start by looking for strength of character, industry knowledge, decision-making skills and other key factors in the ideal agency owner.
Looking Beyond The Obvious
Alternatively, you may have a particular employee in mind that you feel displays all of the mythical characteristics of a great leader. That employee probably runs a tight ship within their own department and is respected by his or her staff. They know how to take charge and they get the job done. That person may be your ideal successor, but that shouldn’t make them the only candidate.
There are other factors that make ideal leaders that fall outside some of the mythical factors. There are other character attributes can be the difference between someone who is great at directing people and a great leader.
The Other Kind Of Leader
As a leader, it’s not enough to be able to make employees respect you; you should be able to earn that respect. Respect starts with common courtesy. The best leaders are the ones that treat every individual employee the same as any other. Great leaders don’t play favorites, they don’t single out certain employees for criticism and they don’t let petty issues impede personal relationships.
Great leaders create an atmosphere of mutual respect. They deal with their subordinates with openness and honesty in every facet of the relationship. They are skilled communicators that let their employees in on the important issues within the agency and allow their subordinates to feel an active part of the business.
Those leadership characteristics can be far more effective than those of the accepted mythical leaders. The strong silent type or hard-nosed authoritarian may be obvious leaders but that doesn’t make them the best leaders. When it comes time to perpetuate your business, look for the leadership potential in every employee. Consider how you would like your business to be run in 10 years time. Remember that authority and decision-making skills can be learned and some of the simplest natural attributes can have the biggest impact.
