Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

It’s Only Common Sense: Santa’s 10 Leadership Secrets

Last week, we talked about the bad guys. This week, we are going to talk about the leadership secrets of the big guy himself—Santa Claus. After all, it is the season to be jolly. These leadership tips come from a neat little book I just read by Eric Harvey title, The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus: How to Get Big Things Done in Your Workshop All Year Long.

Think about it; Santa Claus is and has to be the best customer service guy in the world since he services the entire world. Talk about delivery problems; he has to deliver all of his products in just one night! Imagine if you had only one night a year to deliver all of your products. Do you think you could handle it? And he has to make all of his customers happy—every single one. If he screws up even one delivery, the whole world is watching and will know about it.

When Harvey wrote this book, he asked Santa how he meets all of these challenges, and this is what the man in red told him, “There is no magic to it. So, if it’s not magic, what is my secret? Actually, there are 10 of them—10 practical strategies for leading others and getting big things done all year long. They’re called the leadership secrets of Santa Claus, and I’m here to share them with you. They are my gifts to you. And I guarantee that if you apply them, you’ll find these secrets more valuable than anything you might have written on your holiday list." Read and lead on!

Here are Santa’s 10 secrets on leadership:

1. Build a wonderful workshop: Focus on the mission. Everyone in the workshop must know what we are trying to do, what the goal is, and all stay focused on making that goal.
2. Choose reindeer wisely: As we often say, make sure you have the right reindeer, I mean, people—the ones who believe in the mission and have a passion for working to accomplish that mission. There is no room for negative nabobs in the Christmas business. Everyone on the team has to love what they are doing. As Santa says, “Hire tough, so you can manage easy.”
3. Make a list and check it twice: It’s all about the process. Everyone has to follow directions so that there are no screwups, like two-headed dolls or green geraniums. Insist that everyone follow the plans, instructions, and processes, so we are always on track for doing things right and making the toys correctly.
4. Listen to the elves: Make sure you listen to your team’s ideas. Learn what they are thinking and what their job is like. Most importantly, pay attention to how they perceive you. Will they follow you anywhere? You have to be the best person in the workshop to be a respected leader.
5. Say, “Ho, ho, ho,” but don’t forget the snow: Make sure you are the chief enthusiast. Catch your team doing the right thing and reward them for it. Recognition is very important. Always praise for specific actions and be flagrantly appreciative.
6. Give them gifts that last a lifetime: Teach your team how to go beyond their jobs, so that they don’t only know how to do them but also how to do them successfully. Solve problems immediately, and if sometimes the elves have squabbles, settle them productively. Insist on professionalism from your team, and always point out to them why they should be very proud of what they are doing, by showing them how important their work is.
7. Get beyond the red wagons: Have them accept the reality of change. People who cannot handle change or welcome change will never succeed in business. Many times, they will hold the rest of the team back. Show your team how to embrace change and be flexible enough to adapt to it readily.
8. Share the milk and cookies: Share rewards. Pass them around, so everyone feels the effects of the team’s success. Show them the positive results of their valuable work and the possibility of what they can accomplish together. Make them feel great about what they are doing and how they are doing it.
9. Find out who is naughty and nice: Confront performance problems quickly and effectively. Have hard talks immediately when they are needed, and make them productive and instructional as well. Make sure that all performance expectations are clear and concise.
10. Be good for goodness' sake: Set the example. If you don’t follow the rules as the leader, how do you expect your team to? Always treat everyone with dignity and respect and tell the truth. Continually give it your best shot, and consistently stand for what’s right.

Remember, to prosper, your organization must be able to achieve great things. As their leader, you are fully responsible for them believing that they can accomplish big things.

It’s only common sense.

Dan Beaulieu is president of D.B. Management Group.