Communication is key to forming effective leadership resources

Let your employees know what is happening -- even if the news is bad. Information is power and it is respectful to keep your staff and employees informed. Establish clear expectations with your employees, and don't worry about insulting their intelligence by stating the obvious. Clarification is essential to your company mission.

I recommend: The Association for Business Communication has a plethora of resources available to help you coach your employees and yourself on best practices in business leadership. The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) is also a great resource for this type of information.

When providing info on leadership, teach your staff to give you the "Bad News" first

If something on a project has gone wrong, you want to know immediately. Train your staff to give you the facts, even if they seem dismal, by your calm and predictable reactions to "bad news."

I recommend: Set up ground rules for how news is communicated, this may be handled by creating a employee leadership guide. One successful business with several offices had a rule to send (within the company) good news by letter, and bad news by fax. The employees understood that anything going wrong was a priority. The San Antonio Business Journal cites how to best handle these types of communications. Personnel Today magazine has a good method for dealing with how to communicate business failure in a positive, rather than negative, way.

Consider webcasts for cost effective leadership training

Education and training can take your staff away from the office, but learning can take place inside the office as well. Seminars today are often broadcast over the Internet. During "webcasting" or "webinars" participants can view a seminar in real time and in many cases can email in questions or comments.

I recommend: Careertrack! programs from Fred Pryor Seminars. In addition, inquire with standard continuing education in your profession to see if webcasting is offered. Also, consider on-line courses through university or community college programs. You can also create your own webinars for remote employees using Webex.

Consider excutive coaching for top management as key leadership information resources

Being accountable to yourself and someone else can make a world of difference, as can a fresh set of eyes. Consider what the professionals have to offer.

I recommend: Ami Group offers executive coaching on leadership development, performance improvement and speaking. The College of Executive Coaching also provides vast resources for executive coaching.

Teach employees how to nuture business relationships through leadership information resources

People buy goods and services from those they know. They also refer business to those they know. It's important to look at your community as a whole -- not simply in your own area of expertise. Consider paying for your employees to be involved with lead groups or service organizations if they are so inclined. The benefits will be worth much more than what your company will pay in dues.

I recommend: Rotary International is a great organization for public service and can provide employees with a greater sense of purpose and how leadership can function outside the work setting. Leads Unlimited provides proactive training for sales leadership.