What's the secret for growing your business? Mike Slade, one of the Internet's most successful entrepreneurs, says that the trick to grow your business is to be in charge, but to lead more in the style of Ghandi than Hitler. He suggested asking yourself the following questions:
1. Do you know what your customers really think of you? With all the details of running your business, it's easy to lose touch with your customers. Watch and talk to your customers. Don't just guess how they feel; use empirical data, watch them use your product and what keeps them coming back.
2. Do you hire people who are smarter than you are? According to Slade, the only way your company will thrive, rather than survive, is to have topnotch brains doing the work.
3. Do you give your employees room to operate? Mike Slade says the best way to keep employees loyal, happy and productive is to give them control over what they do.
4. Do you lead like Ghandi or like Hitler? Hitler led through fear, Ghandi through inspiration. The Mahatma's style is far more effective in corporations.
Published by Beverly T. Pruto on March 22, 2008 07:47 AM
