There are few things in this world for which we can claim total control, but in life – and in business – we all have the power to control our own mindset. Mastering a strong business mindset is one of the fundamental ingredients for success and is also one of the few variables that leaders can control.
All too often, investors – and indeed the public in general – tend to underestimate the impact that a positive mindset can have. They overlook the fact that the correct business mindset, for a leader, enables and encourages them to see problems as opportunities, and to focus on the possibilities, rather than the risks. Small businesses with great leaders have the advantage that everyone on the team is committed and fully understands the mission. Leaders who have mastered the business mindset will bring their team with them on the journey.
In the early days at Skill Dynamics, we all worked long and hard, and were fully committed to the vision of providing training that enabled people to excel in their roles. Even without the best tech, we created true believers among the early employees, as well as with our customers who, in many cases, were large corporations who were taking a chance in partnering with a small organisation. Why did they roll the dice with a small firm like ours? Simple…we had a strong, clear vision and our belief in that vision was infectious.
Prior to moving on from my role in Skill Dynamics, I established a high-energy, high-trust culture, where challenging each other was the norm. I concentrated on developing this culture from the bottom up, and the results spoke for themselves. Our Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) was above 40, which was impressive in itself, but it then grew above above 50, even whilst the focus was on transforming senior management
So what’s the secret to mastering the business mindset? It’s about starting with the belief that people generally do what they think is best for the company with the information available to them. Improving those decisions is about coaching, challenging them or the relevant part of the company to collect more data, and providing guiding principles that help establish the mindset of the company. When the collective shares a mindset, they don’t need to ask you about every decision – they know the answer before even asking the question
I am a big believer in giving people a voice and empowering them to act on it when it makes sense. If everyone feels part of the mission, they will help you reach your goals. Coming from a military background, I have always applied the same principles in business. In the US military, the mindset is that you never retreat. Of course, tactical withdrawal is allowed, but only temporary. Alongside this, you must achieve the mission in every training exercise, and you, as a leader, must brief those in your command so that they succeed in the mission even if you aren’t there. Whether you’re leading a platoon on the ground or a team on the factory floor, that’s the mindset you should instil in those around you
In business, solving a problem for your clients – rather than a particular way of solving that problem – must always be the focus. The approach should be to solve the issue in the simplest way that fits within the current architecture and builds upon existing technology wherever possible.
~Novel Serialisation: John Bryan and The Prophecy of The Popes~
On an individual level, creating that winning mindset is also inviting debate and feedback, while at the same time maintaining a strong belief in your own abilities. Feedback should always be listened to, but deciding what you actually act on is crucial. Of course, it’s dangerous to ignore feedback from the market, for example, but it’s also important to listen to your own thoughts too. Your confidence and ability never depends on the approval or disapproval of any one individual or group of individuals. And remember, successful business leaders embrace challenges, mistakes and failure, and view them as opportunities. They use them to develop new skills and to better set themselves up for success in their future endeavours.
About David Rajakovich
US born thought leader David Rajakovich grew up in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Throughout his youth he was driven to succeed becoming accomplished in both sports and academia. He attended the prestigious La Salle University, graduating with a Degree in Economics, International Studies and Spanish. Seeking to gain more hands-on experience, he changed direction and joined the US Army as an Air Defence Officer, amassing a wealth of leadership and interpersonal skills. It was during his time there that he built his mental and physical resilience. Over the years, David has worked in top positions across several technology, e-learning and procurement companies. Familiar to the C-Suite, he has experience as Founder, VPO, Managing Director and CEO. At Skill Dynamics, David became a hugely positive disruptor in the world of e-learning, developing innovative new ways to transform higher education in business. Looking to the future, he plans to commit to a start-up or early-stage company and, through hard work and investment, take it to unicorn status.
~ Kizzi Magazine Promotion ~
