Part 1. Taking Your Leadership Team to the Next Level

What separates the good companies from the exceptional ones? For Mark Richardson, it’s not so much as the company’s designated leader, but the leadership team itself. No matter the size of the company, it’s often the leadership team that helps it achieve specific goals. As in basketball, that leadership team is what makes the difference between getting to the play-offs and winning the actual championship.

But a team is made up of diverse people, which is why it’s important to understand the fundamental competency of each member. Mark shares some essentials that can help you take your leadership team to the next level:

1. Make your leadership team a priority. Devote some time to developing, coaching, and advising your team. Make sure to analyze the effectiveness, culture, and balance between the different leadership team members.

2. Take inventory. Give your team members a closer look and take inventory of them in terms of voice, contribution, and synergy with each other. Most importantly, note which things are missing from your leadership team and think of what you can do to fill these ‘gaps’ for greater improvement.

3. Visualize and communicate. Your business has a better chance of winning the more your leadership team understands where the business is headed, and the more they visualize how important they are as a team.

4. Alignment is crucial. Growing your business is easier when your leadership members are aligned with your vision, pace, and goals.

5. Make sure the members are investing in themselves. Give your leadership team many opportunities to learn more and improve their skill set.

6. Listen to diffident voices in the room. Asking the more reserved members about their input makes them more confident about voicing their opinions, which may ultimately end up helping you make better decisions.

7. Change. The business environment is constantly changing (especially now), and you have to adapt to these alterations, not only in terms of the team members, but in the structure of the leadership team itself.

Part 2. Interview with Andy Wells, CEO of Normandy Design Build Remodeling

In this section of the podcast, Mark interviews Andy Wells--CEO of Normandy Design Build Remodeling, a company serving the Chicagoland area--about his experiences with his own leadership team. Andy reveals that his business didn’t have a formal leadership structure at first. But as more responsibilities landed on him and the company grew larger and more successful, he realized he can do even more and earn better results with a leadership team.

Mark and Andy further discuss how to create a stronger, more effective leadership team that can easily take on challenges and reach business goals.