5 Ways To Lead Your Business Better

One of the most important and effective drivers of long-term success in business leadership is intentionality. For business owners, intentionality means more than setting goals or running a profitable company. It’s about leading with purpose, developing a clear plan for the future, and building a strong, sustainable business culture from the inside out.

Too often, entrepreneurs and business owners conflate running a business with leading a business. While both roles are essential to success, they require fundamentally different mindsets and skill sets. Running a business focuses on operations—profit and loss statements, managing people, delivering products or services. Leading a business, on the other hand, is about vision, strategy, culture, and personal growth.

Understanding this distinction is key. Running a business keeps the machine going. Leading a business transforms that machine into a mission. It motivates teams, fosters innovation, and drives impact. At its core, business leadership is about influence, not control.

Intentional business leadership begins with clarity—clarity of values, purpose, and direction. It requires a long-term commitment not only to growth, but to the wellbeing of the people who help you achieve it. If you want to become a better leader, it starts by being deliberate in your actions and open to your own evolution.

Why Intentionality Matters in Leadership

Intentionality is more than a buzzword—it’s a strategic imperative. Leaders who act with intention:

• Set a consistent tone for company culture

• Align short-term actions with long-term goals

• Inspire teams by modeling purpose-driven behavior

• Create stability during times of change or uncertainty

• Make better, more values-aligned decisions

These are not passive outcomes. They are cultivated through daily habits and consistent self-work. Here are five actionable steps you can take today to become a more intentional and effective business leader.

1. Focus on Self-Awareness

Self-awareness in leadership is the foundation for every meaningful improvement you can make. It means knowing your strengths and limitations, understanding your emotional triggers, and recognizing how your behavior affects others. According to studies in emotional intelligence, leaders with high self-awareness are more effective, more empathetic, and more resilient.

But let’s be honest: self-awareness is not easy. It’s one of the most challenging—and often overlooked—qualities of leadership because it requires honest reflection and a willingness to see blind spots.

How to Build Self-Awareness:

• Journal regularly. Take 10 minutes each day to reflect on your key interactions, decisions, and reactions.

• Seek feedback. Invite candid input from peers, team members, or a leadership coach.

• Observe your team. Pay attention to how your team responds to your leadership style—what energizes them, and what drains them.

When you begin to see patterns, you can begin to shift behavior. Leadership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being present, reflective, and adaptive.

2. Commit to Continuous Learning

Great leaders are lifelong learners. In an ever-changing business landscape, a commitment to continuous learning. is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you're learning about new technology, leadership models, or emerging industry trends, expanding your knowledge base helps you remain agile, competitive, and confident.

Easy Ways to Learn More:

• Consider joining a business owner peer advisory board, taking leadership like The Alternative Board to learn from other business owners.

• Listen to leadership podcasts during your commute or workout.

• Attend webinars and workshops tailored to business growth, strategic planning, or team management.

• Read books and articles on leadership, innovation, or emotional intelligence.

Treat learning as a strategic initiative, not a side project. Set quarterly goals around education and track your progress just like you would a sales target or marketing objective.

Leadership improvement starts with a commitment to continuous learning. Learning opportunities expose leadership to fresh ideas, emerging innovations, and insightful lessons from the past. A hungry mind almost automatically increases one’s ability to problem solve, strategize, and make important decisions.

Consider joining a business owner peer advisory board, taking leadership webinars, and listening to relevant podcasts. Regardless of where or how you educate yourself, make learning a sustained goal and be sure to benchmark it in a way that makes sense to you.

3. Improve Your Communication Skills

Your ability to communicate clearly, consistently, and compassionately is one of the most important tools in your leadership toolkit. Effective communication in business enhances employee engagement, reduces misunderstandings, and builds trust throughout your organization.

But great communication isn’t just about talking—it’s about listening, observing, and adapting your message to your audience. Especially during times of stress or change, your words have the power to either calm or confuse.

Quick Tips to Strengthen Communication:

• Practice active listening. Don’t just wait to speak—engage fully in what others are saying.

• Be transparent. Even when you don’t have all the answers, honesty builds credibility.

• Clarify your expectations. Don’t assume people understand your priorities. Spell them out.

• Use multiple channels. Reinforce important messages through email, meetings, and one-on-ones.

For executable ways to improve your business leadership communication skills, download our free whitepaper titled “Say What You Mean: How To Enhance Your Communication Skills As a Business Leader.”

4. Create a Vision for Your Business

A compelling company vision does more than describe where you want to go—it serves as a strategic compass for decision-making, team alignment, and long-term success. Great leaders use vision as a tool to inspire, motivate, and unify their people.

But don’t confuse vision with vague aspirations. A powerful vision is grounded in personal values, detailed in its goals, and designed to evolve as your business grows.

Though it might feel counterintuitive, your company vision should first start with a strong personal vision. According to The Alternative Board Worldwide President & CEO Jason Zickerman, “You are much more likely to achieve the vision you want for your business if it is aligned with the vision you want for your life.”

Click here to read Jason’s article titled “The Power of Your Own Personal Vision” on Entrepreneur.com.

5. Lead by Example

Leadership is more than titles or decisions—it’s about influence. And your team is watching you closely, whether you realize it or not. Your attitude, energy, and behavior set the tone for your entire organization.

Leading by example means walking the talk. It means showing up the way you expect others to show up. It means choosing courage over comfort, integrity over convenience, and empathy over ego.

Be conscious of demonstrating integrity and respect in the interactions you have throughout your organization. Even when challenged or aggravated, always choose to maintain an objective and receptive demeanor in front of others. Be as transparent as possible, even when having to make tough decisions.

Learn To Lead The Right Way

No one is born a great leader. Leadership is cultivated over time, through awareness, humility, and commitment. The good news? You don’t have to walk this path alone.

Whether it’s through peer advisory groups, business coaching, or leadership development programs like those offered by The Alternative Board, there are proven resources to help you become the leader your business—and your people—deserve.

Take the first step today. Start with one action, build consistency, and lead your business with intention.

For more information on how to become a better leader in your business, read "The Importance of a Leadership Development Plan."