PHOENIX — At Nexstar Network’s recent Owners Spotlight Series in Phoenix, leadership coach Steve Farber told more than 200 member contractors that “Love is at the foundation of great leadership” – love of values, legacy and the future. Farber is the president of Extreme Leadership Inc.
“There must be a connection of the heart or you won’t have the juice to step up,” said Farber. “Why step into something extreme, if you don’t have the heart to do it. It’s not worth it.”
Farber encourages leaders to take a radical LEAP (Love – Energy – Audacity – Proof) day in and day out and invites plumbing, HVAC and electrical contracting business owners to follow these principles of leadership.
Make a love connection: Ask yourself frequently, “Why do I love this work and how do I show it?” The more difficult it is to answer this question, the more important it is to ask the question. Do what you love in the service of people who love what you do.
Generate energy: Do you generate more energy when you walk into a room or walk out of it? Love generates energy, so get excited about what you love.
Ask yourself and your employees, “What do I/we really do here? What’s the higher meaning and purpose in our work?” Once you answer this question, talk about it with staff, employees and customers because human beings have a primal instinct to be part of something great.
Inspire audacity: Audacity is a bold and blatant disregard for normal constraints. When you challenge people and they succeed, they are compelled to take on a new challenge.
Always tell yourself, “I do this to change my ways in order to change the world for the better.” Decide how you are going to change the world of your customers, employees, market, and the industry.
Provide proof: People don’t automatically trust and want to follow the boss, so if you want people to follow you, build trust and prove that you are worth following. Always do what you say you will do because the minute you step into a leadership role, people watch everything you do and compare it to what you say.
Monica Ryan, Nexstar member and owner of Village Plumbing & Home Services, Houston, Texas took Steve Farber’s words to heart. “He showed me that my passion matters and reminded me of why I’m in business. Now I’m going to go back to my shop and take the steps he recommended – take the LEAP!”
Nexstar Network is a business-development and best practices organization delivering comprehensive business training, systems and support to independent home service plumbing, heating and air conditioning professionals across the continent.