Leadership Interview with Todd Lubar of TDL Ventures
As an entrepreneur and businessman who has been in the real estate industry for more than 20 years, Todd Lubar has seen incredible changes in numerous areas of business. The increasing use of technology, the competition within the industry, and many other changes have added up to an entirely new world in which we live and work. However, as Mr. Lubar has continued to work with people from all walks of life, he’s noticed how important it is to be a great leader, no matter the situation. Yet while everyone strives to be a leader in one form or another, he’s discovered that there are various traits that when combined create great leaders.
Todd has shared his insights with you on these traits.
What is the most important aspect to becoming a great leader?
Perhaps above all else, I firmly believe that being honest with employees, customers, and anyone else will make you a success in business. Since your employees and business are a reflection of yourself, it’s inevitable that your values and core beliefs will shine through in your dealings with people. In fact, in my business I’ve done everything possible to create a culture of trust and honest communication. In my opinion, if people feel comfortable voicing their thoughts and concerns to me about anything that’s on their mind, I’m a success.
How did you overcome hurdles?
Like most entrepreneurs, I’ve had plenty of setbacks along the way, some of which made me wonder if I was on the right path. However, unlike some people who have these setbacks and give up, I got up the next day and went right back to work. Whether you have a large or small business, I believe it’s the responsibility of a good leader to maintain employee morale and stay calm and confident, no matter what.
How does humor play into your leadership style?
No matter what industry you’re in, keeping a sense of humor is a must. In my own business dealings, I’ve always found that having lighthearted moments not only help put people at ease, but also keep my work creative and fresh. Since I’ve always been a person who has been able to laugh at my own mistakes, it comes naturally to me to help others do the same.
How do you trust your team and level them up?
When I first started in business, one of the biggest problems I had was delegating responsibility. Even though I had excellent people around me, I still felt the need to do everything myself. However, I eventually learned that if you don’t learn to trust the team you’ve assembled around you, your business will never progress to the top. To be a great leader, it’s important to not only put together a great team, but to know the strengths of each team member. By doing so, you can effectively delegate responsibilities and free up more of your own time, which can then be used to focus on higher-level tasks that will keep you ahead of the competition.
What is your communication style?
Once I realized I would be successful as an entrepreneur, I promised myself to always keep the lines of communication open with employees, clients, customers, and anyone else who wanted to speak with me. In addition to this aspect of communication, I’ve always tried to be as clear and succinct as possible when explaining to my team what I want done. After all, if I’m unable to relate my vision to my team, I can’t possibly expect all of us to be working toward the same goal. This also holds true when I’m training someone new, since the last thing you want is an employee who doesn’t understand your expectations or how to do their job. By always keeping an open-door policy, I’ve been able to not only have employees who know they can trust and depend on me, but also work harder than ever.
How often do you trust your heart over your head?
While it’s great to have as much education and experience as you can get, I’ve found that it’s maybe just as important to rely on your intuition from time to time. After all, when you become an entrepreneur, there is no one roadmap to success. Therefore, you’re often sailing in uncharted waters, so you better learn to develop a sixth sense of what will or won’t work. By drawing on past experiences and trusting my gut instinct, I’ve been able to overcome numerous obstacles along the way.
How do you inspire your team?
In any business, you’re going to have days when the work you’re doing may feel mundane and dull to some extent. However, rather than let yourself and others wallow in this, I choose to use these times as learning experiences. If me and my team are feeling a bit sluggish, we take a break to clear our minds and rejuvenate our spirits. While sometimes that may be accomplished by something as simple as having a cup of coffee, other times I decide we may need a field trip to a local restaurant or park, where we can just hang out and relax. In many cases, it’s during these times that some of our best ideas come to fruition, so don’t be afraid to do something different now and then.
To sum up, I think becoming a great leader takes time, effort, and determination. However, if you love what you’re doing, as I do, a day at the office never feels like work, but simply a day spent with friends.
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