An insight into leadership
by Dawn Gibbins MBE
This article was first published on the business portal In A Nutshell
President Richard M Nixon had an interesting take on leadership. He is said to have boasted: "Grasp a man by his balls and he will follow you to the ends of the earth." But then, Nixon was the man who brought us Watergate.
True leadership is all about people wanting to follow, choosing to follow you. Wikipedia defines leadership as "the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organizations of which they are members." All very well but, in practice, how is leadership exercised and what lessons can be learned?
Leaders should focus on four key areas:
1. Behave like a leader
To become a leader you need to think like a leader and act like a leader. I remember a small Midlands-based operating from dilapidated run offices above a downtown car showroom. Turnover was less than one million and they were in their second year of loss. In an inspired moment they had the vision to enter the international pharmaceutical sector, with software solutions costing a million pounds plus. By thinking, sounding, acting like a world leader, they became one. Today, they are a multi million turnover company, with offices around the globe and are market leaders in their field.
2. Focus on Innovation
- to make an organisation unique, its leader needs to develop a clear strategic proposition for the company that outshines that of the competition. My motto is Dare to be Different.
3. Focus on Operational Excellence
Today's leader has to take a very holistic approach. Leaders give clear direction, set clear goals and then support their team to success. Only when leaders focus on both unique strategy and operational excellence will they succeed.
4. Focus on Inspiration
Inspirational leadership is all about
Being a visionary
Being there to lift and support people
Engaging in dialogue - and that means listening
Celebrating learning
Facilitating others to solve problems and make decisions
Creating a vision and promoting flexibility through values and through guidelines for behaviour
Recognising that the greatest assets our companies possess are the hearts, minds and attitudes of our people
I like to inspire my own team by catching them doing something right. Distributing a global monthly newsletter, profiling people and promoting their achievements. By organising parties to celebrate success. I am a manic champion of change and that is something that is highly contagious; people learn to welcome challenge, expanding their own capabilities.
Finally, Inspiration comes from trusting people to get on with their job and having faith in them to succeed.
Perhaps it can all be summed up in my policy of Don't just dream it, do it:
Do it: Differently - surprise customers, both internal and external
Do it: Better - than competitors
Do it: with Passion - a passion to please.
Do it: Flaunt it - be visible. Self-promotion is not a sin. Chuck out the 'blue suit' image and be a colourful character, full of ideas that inspire staff and customers.
Do it: Dare to enjoy it - make friends, internally and externally. Network!
Go on - do it!
Editor's note: Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year, Dawn been voted Most Influential Person in British Manufacturing. As a member of the Government's Manufacturing Forum, she works to bring an agenda for positive change and promotion in industry. Dawn is now an Ambassador for the Government's Manufacturing Advisory Service.
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