Leadership Skill Development

Leadership Skill Development – Three Key Factors in Finding "Good" People
By Peter McLean

“Good people are hard to find.” How often do we hear this comment from a disheartened business owner? What exactly do we need to do to find these ‘good’ people? Where do we find them? How do we engage them? What do we mean when we use the word ‘good,’ as it applies to business?

Good, as defined in the dictionary, includes the positive qualities of being morally excellent, pleasing, admirable and virtuous, as well as doing that which is right. People who are good are seen as being genuine, honorable, clever and competent. These intrinsic qualities are highly valued in any successful business.

Chesterton was once asked, “What in your view is the biggest problem facing the world today?” In his typical style, he simply replied, “I am.”

The message in this is clear, in terms of finding good people. It all starts with the owner and the managers at the top. Simply put, the business owner and managers in the ‘good business’ must exhibit and model the qualities of good leadership they are seeking. They must strive to be constantly ‘good’ themselves.

If you are not attracting good people into your business, perhaps you should start by asking yourself where the problem might lie. In considering your answer, keep in mind the following three key factors for developing a business that will attract good people.

Build Trust
In small business, good governance begins with being trustworthy ourselves and developing a business culture that embodies that trust in our relationships with others. This is accomplished through establishing work environments that build positive connections between people. Relationship building in business is an ongoing dynamic that everyone must be committed to and engage in.