Leadership Tips
By Joel Goldsmith, Leadership Gilroy Board of Directors
In my career running Goldsmith Seeds, being a part of industry organizations, and supporting non-profits, I have learned a lot about leadership, both the good and the bad. Here are three of the top leadership lessons I have learned:
Be Inclusive - Everyone involved wants to feel like their contributions are important. Dismissing someone’s thoughts can be very demoralizing. Conversely, changing your mind because you listened to them is one of the most powerful motivators that I have ever seen. When someone came to me looking for an answer, I always started with what they felt should be done. Doing so not only gave us better solutions, it gave them more confidence to speak up in the future.
Embrace Smarter People - Some “leaders” feel that they need to be the smartest person in the room. I learned that if I surrounded myself with really smart and knowledgeable people, we could all be more successful. My role then transitioned from giving instructions to setting a clear direction for the company or organization, so everyone understood their role in helping us be successful. One of the best decisions I made was to hire a new CFO, Director of Sales & Marketing, and Human Resource Manager, all at the same time. Getting them and our existing employees comfortable took a bit of work, but the company went on a very strong growth spurt.
Be Calm and Patient - This is maybe the hardest of all. When things are spiraling out of control, it can be hard to stay calm. But in the midst of chaos, seeing the boss freaking out makes everyone scared and fearful. Showing patience gives others hope that things will get better. And that is the most important thing that a leader can accomplish.