Leadership Simplified-Part-34-Leadership Lessons from a Street Vendor-Part-1

 

Leadership Lessons from a Street Vendor-Part-1

Lesson for being a Self-starter

A Street Vendor is a person who positions himself/herself in a particular location, who sells products ranging from Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers etc. We would have come across some of them doing their business from the same place, for ages. Let us understand some of the qualities they demonstrate to prove their Leadership Skills.

They will be the first to spot a new Locality: Some of these street vendors are very smart, they will identify an upcoming locality and they will establish their small outlet there and wait to be spotted by the residents in that locality. Once the residents keep seeing the vendor daily, they will develop Trust and start transacting with him/her. Similarly, in workplace, you should spot an opportunity and volunteer to head the New Project/Location etc.

When you do so, you will start from the scratch and hence you will learn beyond the job functions. For instance, if your company is planning to start a new division/ start an additional facility, offer yourself to establish it, though you might not be given a promotion or a pay hike, but remember that you will learn the art of setting up a business. The learning will range from Project Management, People Identification, Process Development, etc.

Street vendors literally undergoes some of the experiences mentioned above, but over a period some of them will learn the art of establishing many such outlets in various localities and deploy people to run it.

Next time, when you come across a street vendor talk to them to understand how they establish their business

When you keep spotting opportunities, you will keep increasing your capability. understand your organisation’s future and identify how you can contribute towards it

Leaders do not wait for Opportunities; they create Opportunities for Self and Others

M.L. Narendra Kumar