Leadership Tips

  • Play your own game well

    I see it so often in my organisation and others, so much energy expended on conversations that go something like, ‘ I can’t believe so and so got that job, or bonus, team A or B are rubbish.’ Lots of literature will talk about spheres of influence, my take on this is quite simple. Just work hard to be really good at what you do, worry about developing yourself and those around you, good things should follow.

  • Consistency is key to effective leadership

    Your team pays as much attention to what you do as to what you say. Good leaders know they must  demonstrate strong values, live by a professional code of conduct, effectively communicate and then lead by example. You cannot appear to be someone to one group of people and someone else to a different group,  “Consistency Is Key” or you will be exposed.

  • Results are measured in many ways.

    Let me explain by way of an example. I got invited to a meeting by one of my staff, It wasn’t essential I went, but I did. On the way back from the hour or so meeting, my colleague said they thought what had been covered at the meeting was probably a waste of my time. I said I didn’t think so, but it depended on how you looked at it. He looked quizzical! I said I had not known where the tube station we used was, nor the building that we went to. I had also spoken to the lady we met on the phone and had never met her in person. I had also noticed two nice coffee bars we walked past, as well as a pub and a pastry shop, plus I had spent enough time with them to now know what they enjoyed and didn’t, what they hoped to do in their career, as well as about their family and what they liked doing in their free time.

  • Have a clear vision but never ignore the nearest crocodile.

    This is about being a Proactive Leader, who prioritises the need to focus more on achieving a clear vision and objectives, unlike the reactive type leader (a peer or a boss) who is more focused on day to day problems, demanding action and sapping the energy of others. The proactive leader can identify reactive behaviour in others and anticipates what needs to be done to feed the crocodile to  minimise the impact on their team.

  • Get into the Arena at every opportunity, heckling from the sideline is easy and boring.

    Leadership is about action not position, many leaders use their position to reinforce their effective leadership with limited examples of action or taking risks.  Leadership provides opportunities to develop and grow.

    “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”

    -Robert F. Kennedy-