Leaders, directors, managers, what is the difference?
Whilst directors direct and managers manage, great leaders inspire and help their people to think the impossible and achieve the unachievable, writes Nikki King OBE, CEO of Isuzu Truck UK Limited in the FSB magazine.
Directors direct managers to jump over a cliff, managers decide how they are going to do it. Great leaders say: "Believe me, this is the right thing to do and I will jump first and catch you when you fall," says Nikki
Nikki believes that the first thing great leaders have in common is vision. A clear idea of how and where they are going, why they need to go there and what needs to be done to reach thrie goal. They have the ability to communicate that vision and engage others so they believe it is their vision too. Then comes the passion. Great leaders are always passionate about their vision and communicate that passion in everything they do and say. They also have the capacity to be flexible and pragmatic, knowing that sometimes outside influences will effect strategy but they never lose sight of the original aim.
Recognise Weaknessess
One of the most important leadership qualities is to recognise your weaknesses and to ensure that you surround yourself with people who can fill your shortcomings. Keep that vision simple A complicated vision makes it almost impossible to achieve and totally confusing for everyone involved.
Her vision for the company when she began in 1996 was that they would go to market on the unique selling point of customer service. "We've won awards for it since. Our culture is totally focused on this vision; I am boring on the subject. All of our staff are trained in customer care and all of our customers have my home phone number. They can call me if there is a problem - and none of my staff wants a customer to call me at home. Be pragmatic, the world is changing fast and the speed of communication brings its own challenges. Interpersonal rapport is vitally important and builds strong relationships with your people and helps you to inspire them.
Closely watch what is happening around you. Admit if you are wrong or make a mistake but have a new game plan ready for action. Learn from your mistakes, but never look back. Always listen to others."
"Your team will not think you are weak if you ask for their advice. Many people junior to you will have great ideas or better in-depth knowledge of certain subjects. Asking for help develops them as potential leaders, makes them feel valued and grows your own expertise. No one can respect a leader who thinks they know everything. Surround yourself with good people who have complementary as well as similar skills to yours. Always hire or promote a person who could do your job better than you, then devolve as much responsibility as you can on those gifted people. Develop and stretch them to the limit. A great leader inspires people to over achieve and generously gives them public credit for doing so. Look carefully at each individual in your organisation and decide what motivates them best and tailor your leadership package to suit them. Be emotionaly robust, you need to keep an outward air of being in control.
You can admit you are under pressur but people will be looking to you for a solution and reassurance that everythng will be ok.
Share yourself. Sharing private moments and thoughts bring you closer to your team. A good sense of huour is vital and can deliver strong messages in an effective but not terminally damaging way.
Listen to your inner voice. Gut feeling is normally right but before acting on instinct seek some logical advice. A voice told me when to buy the company and I'm sure another voice will tell me when to sell.
A great leader must have integrity. No decision can be made for selfish motives. Many times in your career you'll have to make unpleasant, difficult decisions. On those occasions honesty and compassion will be paramount.
Leadership can be a lonely existance as the buck stops with you. Have a great mentor, find someone you admire as a leader and learn from them.
My shopping list of qualities for a great leader is: integrity; honesty; compassion; listening; pragmatism; simplicity; sharing of yourself; tratin each person individually and above all, never losing that passion and never deviating from the vision."
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