written by Nick Roud. Award Winning Executive Leadership Coach 5th Feb 2025
The Sole Trader Leader!
Have you ever come across a leader with and anything is possible mentality. Do you currently work for one or are you that type of leader?
A leader can be described in many ways and lots of scholars around the world have a favourite description of the word. For purpose of today’s article let’s agree that a leader is
‘the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country’
As a leader you will bring unique strengths to a situation. Understanding your current strengths and areas of developments enables a leader to be ‘aware’ of how he or she shows up. In most situations the leader has the final say and only once formed decisions have been thought through. Part of a leaders role is to ensure the people are on the same page and heading in the right direction. Course correction, having a future outlook and navigating real life impacts are very much part of the everyday leader. But the question remains are you a sole trader or a leader of people?
Let’s be real, a leader is going to make mistakes and the smart leaders will not make the same mistake twice! What has become apparent over the years of coaching successful leaders is that the uber effective leader takes responsibility. That means they take ownership of outcomes good or bad. They will not throw others under the bus to enhance his or her remit. They genuinely care for not only the result but for those who will enable the result to happen. Sure a strong word or light touch will be needed but again the effective leader will appreciate when and where to step in.
When a leader leans into professional development and there are a whole array of ways, it’s important for them to understand how others see them.
But why?
The huge benefit of understanding how others experience them as a leader can’t be underestimated. Imagine you believe you are a great communicator or a strategic thinker and you are leading a team but not seeing movement. The effective leader and mature leader will want to see how much better things can be where as the ineffective leader will simply blame everyone else other than themselves. So there in lines a specific situation where things will not improve in fact they will get material worse. When considering your professional development it’s the little things which can and will make the biggest impact to your ongoing success as a leader. Leadership starts with you!
Very rarely do I coach a leader who hasn’t come to the conclusions that they need others (aka people) with them in order to to deliver. Hence they are not a sole trader leader.
Taking control and or ownership isn’t for everyone. When you sign up to lead you will need to get comfy with taking control and ownership, constantly needed by others, decisions needed to happen. A leader who doesn’t adapt to the pace and demands will soon be seeking a new career.
How are you approaching and or making decisions? How are you communicating? How are you leading your teams? Some questions to ponder.
What I have come to realise is that a sole trader leader will not allow others in. They will try and hold the keys to the box of gold. They usually play people off and hog the limelight. When observing them they like the sound of their own voice and rarely include others in conversations or though. They position themselves at the head of the table. Those little things that show a lack of effectiveness as a leader.
As we move into 2025 you may well be seeking some clarity in your own leadership approach. Working with me you will understand who you are, how you lead, where to put energy into and things to stop. You will grow as a leader and become a better leader and ultimately a more effective leader. All you need to do is reach out!