Being Intentional is Not a Bad Thing

To scale a printing business, leaders must be proactive in communication, strategic in decision-making, and disciplined in execution. Leading a printing business is hard, but by using the right tools, with an intentional mindset, you increase your chances to capture opportunities and lead a profitable business.

What’s the Big Deal About Communication

Communication seems easy until it’s not. Sometimes what we think is very clear is ambiguous to the recipient. We just can’t understand why they don’t get what we’re trying to communicate. And guess what, speaking slower or raising your voice doesn’t make it any clearer. Here are a few best practices that I’ve picked up along the way:

• Understand who you’re speaking to. A great skill is to be able to have just as meaningful a conversation with a six-year-old and then turn around and do the same thing with the CEO of a company. Be adaptable, regardless of the level and be clear and concise and try to avoid ambiguity.
• Become a great listener. It’s amazing that the better you listen, the better your chances of effective communication. Don’t listen only to wait for your turn to speak. Be an active listener, as it’s contagious.
• Sometimes the focus is on what you are trying to communicate. Don’t overlook the importance of the why you are communicating this. The more people understand why something is happening, the better that they can comprehend and assimilate what it means to them.
• Don’t forget that to be truly persuasive and inspiring, you sometimes need to add a little enthusiasm behind what you were communicating.

Be a Decision-Making Machine

This isn’t to imply that making decisions is easy nor should you be flippant about the rationale you use in your decision-making process. Quite the contrary. Good decision makers make decisions based on facts and experience.

They understand that there are usually three or four sides to every story. While they may have a gut instinct, they also rely on insights and data to support their decisions.

They understand the risk that go along with deciding as well as the risk of not deciding. They often seek collaboration and input from others on key decisions. But most of all, the best leaders own their decisions, whether they succeed or fail.

Execution is Critical for Success

Effective leaders make time available for strategic thinking that helps them translate their vision into an actionable plan. They are good at focusing on the most impactful tasks, are able to prioritize their work, and work in a way to avoid distractions. They are not afraid to delegate. They realized that empowering others is an effective way of building trust and holding people accountable for the roles they play and the organization. Finally, they capitalize on their problem-solving mindset, which helps them to anticipate obstacles, adapt and pivot as needed.

Growing a printing business is just plain hard to do. The best leaders try to balance their vision with action, drive continuous improvement, and understand that without their team, they are nothing. Maintaining that people-first mindset helps to increase your chances for success and maintaining a growing, profitable business.

Mike Philie can help validate what’s working and what may need to change in your business. Changing the trajectory of a business is difficult to do while simultaneously operating the core competencies. Mike provides strategy and insight to ambitious owners and CEOs in the Graphic Communications Industry by providing direct and realistic insight, not being afraid to voice the unpopular opinion and helping leaders navigate change through a common sense and practical approach. Learn more at www.philiegroup.com, LinkedIn or email at mphilie@philiegroup.com.