I turned out of the company parking lot and, while stopping at the light, noticed the group of young adults setting up for the day's business at the new bistro across the street. A few months ago, the location was home to a diner and less than a year prior to that, a home furnishings store. I wondered if the newest tenant would have better luck than the previous two. If not, it certainly wouldn't be for a lack of potential customers as the area is highly populated with both business and residential zoning and precious few places to eat. I remembered the few times I went to the diner, and how poorly managed it was. All it took was a few wrong orders or excessive waiting times and word spread quickly throughout the office, giving the place a less than stellar reputation which likely contributed to its downfall.

It suddenly occurred to me that the level of organizational leadership required to run a company as large and ever-expanding as the one I'm fortunate enough to be a part of is not at all dissimilar to the level required to run any other, no matter what the size. For almost any business in any industry, a high level of organizational leadership and management is crucial for operating at the most optimum level.

Areas of specialization aside, the core principles of operational leadership and management applicable to one business is equally applicable to all others. Whether you run an international distribution company that employs a large workforce or own a small repair shop with only a handful of employees, the way in which you manage your assets and resources will determine your overall success as a business entity.

Organizational leadership and management is the single most effective way to obtain the highest level of efficiency from your employees, and centers around providing them with the structure, atmosphere, examples and expectations to perform at their peak. After all, the most important assets any company possesses are its employees. By fostering their strengths and building a streamlined, performance inducing work environment, you can funnel creative energy and illicit the best possible results. When businesses are as purposeful and diligent about human capital as they are about resource allocation and investments, the benefits are innumerable.

It's no secret that businesses need leadership just as they need management, but what few companies realize is that, just as with management, leadership isn't something that always permeates from the top of the organization down. From mid-level managers to even the smallest of departments, the key to a well oiled machine is to look for leadership qualities in the individuals you choose to run your business.