Secure Your Future!: The Two-Word Secret Weapon to Effective Leadership

Performance. Management.

"Performance Management" is a term coined by Dr. Aubrey Daniels in the late 1970s to describe a technology for managing, both behavior, and results, the two critical elements of what is known as performance. As an entrepreneur and a leader it is critical in your business.

Performance Management includes goal setting and motivation. It means being 100% clear on what you want. It also includes "encouragement" and "rewards and consequences". It is the single thing that can spur people on to greater accomplishments while strengthening their skills. Read that last sentence again.

What does this mean to you as a leader?

Constantly communicate your performance expectations

Set realistic but stretch goals. (This means, if you already make $1000 per week, set your goal to $2000.)

Be forgiving, but be aggressive. (Something's just won't work and accept it.)

WL Gore & Assoc, makers of GoreTex, the versatile and durable fabric used in outdoor products like tents and rain gear is an excellent example. When the company started, money was tight. The engineers had been working on an experiment and ended up wasting $1000 of material. They were devastated.

Mr. Gore walked in and saw the engineers with their long defeated faces and asked what's wrong? After listening, Mr. Gore simply responded, "well, try again tomorrow."

You see, Mr. Gore knew some day that the $1000 was simply an "investment" in creativity and down the road it would look minuscule. He was a true leader and understood the power of motivation and de-motivation and the importance of staying the course.

As an entrepreneur, understand the importance of keeping it positive, staying the course, and seeing the big picture. It'll show up as results not just to the bottom line but also in the lives of those you lead.

Don't manage anyone, but do set the bar high for expectations. Mr. Gore understood that his engineers were just "in the game." He brought the perspective that they were all in it to "win," and to simply try again tomorrow. Do this with your own business and watch what happens.

Performance + Management = Success.

Steph Robey, Internet and Home Based Business Entrepreneur

Stephanie Robey has 20 years experience in graphic design and 10 years experience in online marketing. She's started and sold 2 companies and remains on the board of directors of the third, PhotoSpin.com. You can meet her at http://www.MeetStephAndDave.com - her current Internet venture.

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