Leadership
LEADING
BY DR BARRY CUMMINGS
There are many books and theories about what makes a great leader and many more discussions on whether leaders are born or can be made. But there are so many factors surrounding how great leaders get to the place that they achieve: time, place, opportunity, skills and character being just a few, that it is sometimes difficult to know where to focus. However, for the rest of us, even if we don’t aspire to being a great leader, we can aspire to be good leaders, and good leaders can inspire their teams by leading by example. Here are some of the characteristics that I believe make a good leader.
Listen. I believe that a good listener is like a good dancer. They know when to lead and when to follow. Ask questions and be sure to listen to the answers and act on them. Active listening shows
that you value what the other person has to say and can encourage other people to talk. Following near bankruptcy in 2003, Jørgen Vig Knudstorp became LEGO’s CEO and completely reorganized the firm and changed its culture. One of the changes was to listen more to their customers. By listening to their customers, LEGO was able to turn around their business fortunes. Where they had previously rejected suggestions from outside the company, they decided to embrace their customers input wherever possible thereby building and strengthening their existing brand.
Take action. Great leaders do not sit on their hands and wait for others. They do things and encourage others to do the same. Whether it is a big political statement such as the Martin Luther Kings of this world or a simple change in company direction, they won’t wait for others to get moving, they create momentum and get things rolling. In late 2011, Thomas Cook, the well-known travel agency was in trouble. Its share value was near rock bottom and it was in need of a serious rescue. In May 2012, Harriet Green took over as the company’s CEO and turned the company around improving the share price from 14p at its lowest point to 137p in November 2014. Some of this was in part due to significant changes made in store layout and approach and the introduction of different types of holidays to reflect 21st century interests in hi-tech.
Recognise others abilities and use them. All great leaders understand that they cannot and should not do everything. They collect around them other people who fill the gaps in their abilities. Virgin’s Richard Branson is known for looking to “hire my weaknesses.”
Walk the talk. Get out there and show people that you understand and if necessary can do the job. Senior managers at Tesco in the UK have been out and about in stores working with the public to remind them what it is like on the shop floor.
22 | TRAINING MAGAZINE EUROPE FEB 2015
BY EXAMPLE
BY BERRY WINTER