Survey: Area companies need more leaders

The informal survey was conducted during biannual seminars led by Betty Lorton, a business development specialist with the University of Missouri Extension. About 100 local businesspeople between the ages of 19 and 80 attended the seminars this year, Lorton said.

In addition to their preference for leaders over bosses, respondents also agreed that true leaders are at a premium, Lorton said. Traits frequently associated with good leaders are honesty, self-confidence, competence and inspiration, she said.

“More research needs to be done in a scientific manner to help people be leaders instead of managers,” Lorton said. “We don’t drop our brains at the door when we walk into work.”

Respondents who participated in the survey included:

• A female manufacturing supervisor who said “good leaders walk their talk,” or lead by example, and inspire people instead of managing them;

• A male government agency director who wrote that “good leaders are involved instead of delegating.” He added, “Leaders have integrity; they are honest and reliable. You can trust them. They keep confidences, and they have common sense and good judgment.”; and

• A female service supervisor who wrote that “good leaders are a coach, not a king. They have powerful communication skills. They avoid sugar coating. They communicate both good and bad news directly with the people affected.”

Respondents agreed that “leadership is a learnable process, and that traditional management control should be replaced with leadership that enables others to accomplish,” Lorton said.

Each month, Lorton teaches three free business seminars in conjunction with the Springfield-Greene County Library District. Topics include starting and running a business; writing a marketing plan in one day; and learning to use QuickBooks accounting software. Two slots are still available for the QuickBooks seminar Nov. 8–9, she said.

For more information, contact Lorton at (417) 862-9284, ext. 11.