One of the most successful strategies I’ve seen leaders employ is shifting their focus from merely managing the process to truly leading to outcomes. In an era that rightly champions employee empowerment, granting your team flexibility in their approach, as long as they deliver the desired results, is key to unlocking their full potential. As Theodore Roosevelt wisely said: “The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”

While managing for outcomes is a step in the right direction, I believe that leading to outcomes, with a deep infusion of human-centric leadership, is far more effective in today’s dynamic Small and Medium-Sized Business (SMB) environment.

Why “Leading” to Outcomes Matters More Than Just “Managing”

The distinction is crucial. “Leading to Outcomes” incorporates “Human Leadership.” Given that your team is likely composed of diverse individuals who approach work differently and are motivated by different factors, a one-size-fits-all management approach to achieving outcomes will fall short.

Human Leadership, the Differentiator:

This approach is characterized by:

1. Genuine Curiosity and Caring: Understanding individuals on your team; their personal interests, family priorities, what truly motivates them.
2. Adaptive Expectations: Willingness to tailor your approach and expectations to meet the unique needs and working styles of each team member.
3. Aligned Goals and Relevant Rewards: Connecting organizational success criteria and rewards to what is meaningful and motivating for each individual.
4. Ongoing Dialogue on Alignment: Focusing conversations not just on the work or the outcome, but on how aligned and engaged each individual feels in contributing to those goals.

Management vs. Leadership: A Critical Distinction

“Managing” often connotes processes, reports, KPIs, and a focus on business results. These are all vital and cannot be neglected. However, the art of managing is merely the entry point to true success.

Leadership, on the other hand, encompasses management plus the ability to genuinely engage employees. Leaders build trust, inspire passion, align people to a shared vision, connect work to personal priorities, and cultivate a strong culture where team members willingly go above and beyond for each other and the organization. Managers might achieve short-term results; leaders build long-term, sustainable competitive advantage. As a fractional CIO, my goal is to bring this leadership perspective to your SMB’s technology initiatives, ensuring that IT projects are not just “managed” to completion, but “led” in a way that inspires your team and delivers strategic business outcomes.

The Compounding Results of Leading to Outcomes

Focusing on leading to outcomes, underpinned by human leadership, often delivers better short-term results and significant long-term benefits for your SMB:

• Improved Recruiting & Retention: People are drawn to strong, human-focused cultures and leaders. Given a choice, top talent will gravitate towards environments where they feel valued, understood, and empowered.
• Enhanced Innovation: Engaged teams, aligned with the organization’s vision and empowered to define their “how,” are far more likely to find new and better ways to achieve goals. Creativity thrives on engagement and trust.
• Stronger Brand & Customer Image: As Simon Sinek says, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” A strong internal culture driven by human values and a clear vision inevitably shines through to your customers, creating lasting brand loyalty.
• Lasting Competitive Advantage: While managing for outcomes can yield incremental improvements, leading to outcomes by deeply engaging your team builds a resilient, adaptive, and highly motivated organization; a true competitive differentiator.

What’s Next

Shift your focus from simply managing processes to truly leading your SMB towards desired outcomes. Embrace a human-centric leadership style that trusts, empowers, and aligns your team around a shared vision and individual motivations. The result will be a more engaged workforce, greater innovation, and a more profound and lasting impact on your business’s success, helping you “Succeed Sooner.”

Is your SMB’s leadership style truly empowering your teams and focusing them on strategic outcomes, especially in complex areas like technology implementation and IT strategy? If you’re looking for a partner to help you cultivate a leadership approach that drives engagement, innovation, and results, let’s connect with Succeed Sooner Consulting.