Connecting: Leaders must avoid being their own worst enemies

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When an entrepreneur starts a company, does that mean he is a leader? If entrepreneurs are born leaders, why is there often discord, confusion and conflict surrounding their companies? Is it a leadership issue, a teamwork challenge or a power struggle?|ret||ret||tab|

Several experts share their views on defining leadership and the challenges they face. |ret||ret||tab|

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The entrepreneur |ret||ret||tab|

James Hodge, president of Hodge and Associates, based in Springfield, works with leaders across the country and internationally. Hodge specializes in executive outsourcing and management consulting, and emphasizes how leaders are courageous risk takers. |ret||ret||tab|

"The entrepreneur has a personality that enjoys risks and likes control. One downfall is they often try to wear too many hats and play in arenas they have no expertise, in and they jeopardize their success," says Hodge. It's a paradox that often the qualities that define good leaders are the same qualities that inhibit their success. |ret||ret||tab|

"Courage is an important element of leadership, and risk-taking is part of courage," says Mark Montini, a 29-year-old entrepreneur and president of Campaignsecrets.com. Montini's business, based in Washington, D.C., is an Internet company that focuses on helping local Republican candidates who can't afford political consultants. Montini stresses the importance of teamwork. He says leaders need to remember their role is to make sure they empower others and make them the best at what they do. |ret||ret||tab|

"The worst CEO to have is the one who thinks he can do everything," Montini said. |ret||ret||tab|

Teamwork is an important element of success in any company. |ret||ret||tab|

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Defining roles|ret||ret||tab|

The challenge of the leader is to develop teams, and the downfall of many teams is lack of defined roles, according to Sheri Hawkins, president of the HR Company in Springfield. Hawkins works with companies by helping them design and implement processes and procedures. |ret||ret||tab|

"Teams need processes and procedures; even something as simple as driving a car requires teamwork. As a driver you trust everyone is operating under the same rules as you are," she said. "If someone doesn't understand a boundary, there are going to be problems." |ret||ret||tab|

Hodge agrees: "A contributing factor to power struggles is a lack of defined roles within the company." |ret||ret||tab|

One of the most important elements of a successful team is a shared vision; otherwise, power struggles are likely to result. |ret||ret||tab|

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What is a power struggle?|ret||ret||tab|

Betty Lorton, business and industry specialist for University of Missouri Outreach and Extension, says it is up to the leader to establish the vision. |ret||ret||tab|

"The leader communicates the vision and makes that vision clear to the staff and supporting teams," Lorton said. She stresses it is up to the team to make the vision a reality. "When the team is out of alignment with the vision and the mission, the trouble begins,"|ret||ret||tab|

"Power struggles occur because someone oversteps their bounds," says Gloria Galanes, PhD, a professor at Southwest Missouri State University. |ret||ret||tab|

Galanes says one of the biggest complaints is that leaders don't recognize or address power struggles soon enough. "Power struggles are a drain and people are afraid of them therefore they avoid them," she said. "If these issues are not explicitly recognized and spelled out, each person will think it's supposed to be one way, and yet it will be happening another way."|ret||ret||tab|

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Addressing the power struggle|ret||ret||tab|

Hawkins says she has seen power struggles from the front line to the top executives. Hawkins emphasizes a good team has a good leader and their role is clearly defined. "It's like a baseball team, you don't pitch when you are up to bat. Everyone should be an expert in his or her area and be able to pick up the slack, without getting their roles confused," she said. |ret||ret||tab|

Galanes added, "When the roles are not clearly defined, you are just asking for trouble. Some teams can get by without a designated leader, but in that case there still must be agreement about the process of how decisions are made." |ret||ret||tab|

Entrepreneurs are sometimes so attached to their idea they don't see where they might need help. |ret||ret||tab|

"Sometimes the best way to clear the air is to hire outside help," says Hodge. "They often need to bring in someone to help them with their strategic planning. The consultant can be objective because there are no emotions attached."|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|(Marlene Chism is president of ICARE Presentations in Springfield.)|ret||ret||tab|

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