Trying to grow your business in this sluggish economy is a little like trying to swim through Jell-O. Ineffective or uncertain leaders definitely need not apply. So what does it take to lead a small business through this ongoing economic mess?

1. Important
L traits
eadershiP
for
Entrepreneurs
to Thrive
ToughT
in
imes

2. Trying to grow
your business in
this sluggish
economy is a
little like trying
to swim through
Jell-o.

3. Ineffective
or
uncertain
leaders
definitely
need not
apply.

4. So what does it take to lead
a small business through this
ongoing economic mess?

5. entrepreneurs
Here's a roundup of the important traits for

6. 1. L
isten.
Tune in to what workers and
customers are saying, and you'll find
great ideas for how to move forward.

7. 2. Give Credit.
Workers love leaders who
acknowledge their ideas.

8. 3. Be Yourself.
In our age of sound bites and phony
smiles, tell your story honestly.

9. 3. Be Yourself.
It's rare and refreshing, and makes
workers feel like they know you --
and want to help you succeed.

10. 4. Communicate.
So much company dysfunction can
be prevented with clear
communication.

11. 4. Communicate.
Otherwise, workers are in the dark.
And soon, they won't care.

12. 5. Don't be Trendy.
Avoid the "strategy du jour" problem.
Choose a course and stick to it.

13. 6. Beat Anxiety.
Stop worrying and turn your negative
emotions -- regret, fear, sadness --
into teachers that help shape your
character.

14. 7. Be Service Oriented.
Leaders can be sort of self-involved,
forgetting that they are in a position
of leadership.

15. 7. Be Service Oriented.
To serve customers, shareholders
and workers stay focused on others.

16. 8. Be Accountable.
Define the results you want, and
acknowledge when a screw-up is
your fault.

17. 9. Use Empathy.
Demographic changes have foisted
more and more women into the
workplace.

18. 9. Use Empathy.
Make sure your communication and
leadership style is a fit for today's
workforce.

19. 10. Share the Big Picture.
If your workers don't know the
company's overall goals, it can be
hard for them to solve problems.

20. 10. Share the Big Picture.
That leaves you having to
micromanage every problem instead
of being able to delegate and offer
guidance.

21. 11. Keep Y C
our ool.
The days when being a screamer
worked are long gone.

22. 11. Keep Y C
our ool.
If workers are worried about whether
you're in a good mood today or not,
little gets done.

23. 12. Think like an Immigrant.
When you arrive on new shores, you
often see the business world with
fresh eyes.

24. 12. Think like an Immigrant.
Use your unique perspective to spot
opportunities others are missing.

25. What
L
eadership
Traits
do
you
think
matter
now?

26. +