Effective leadership is about so much more than economic success. It’s also about guiding a business – and its people – to their full potential, by giving them the best version of you.
Soft skills like communication and compassion are often overlooked in favour of more concrete achievements like degree certificates and years of experience when hiring new leaders. Nevertheless, it’s these skills that allow those in high-ranking positions to make a real difference in their stewardship role.
As new execs step into management positions and budding entrepreneurs set off on their new business ventures, they must therefore remain open to personal change and transformation: the first true key to organisational growth. It’s all about aligning organisational goals with personal vision, becoming the kind of leader those looking up to you need to be in order to embrace and realise your business plan as their own.
Whilst this might sound very fanciful and ambiguous in nature, Charlie Coode, Founder of Culture15 identifies five key steps that all authority figures can take to set out on their best foot as they embark on this new, self-improvement led road:
- Cultivate self-awareness
As a leader, understanding your core motivations – the ‘why’ you do things – and how they influence your business decisions is vital. By engaging in regular self-reflection, be it through guided talking sessions or journaling alone, you can get to grips with your daily thoughts and actions, learning to identify any behavioural patterns or triggers that could compromise business achievement.
Seeking feedback from trusted colleagues likewise offers valuable insight, whilst constructive criticism helps to ensure actions align with the company’s best interests and that of its people. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, for instance, is known for his commitment to self-awareness and reflection, which has been key to his transformative leadership style.
- Embrace humility
All good leaders recognise that they can’t do it alone. Asking for advice, listening openly and implementing changes based on external perspectives are all essential, helping to balance personal drive with business requirements and production goals.
Recognising that we don’t have all the answers and seeking input from others also fosters a sense of humility, reminding founders, CEOs and managers alike to celebrate their employees’ contributions, and to create a culture of appreciation and collective success. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, often speaks about the importance of listening to employees and valuing their insights, which has become a cornerstone of Amazon’s innovative culture.
Acknowledging staff members’ hard work and achievements not only boosts morale but also underscores the importance of each person’s role in the outcomes of your business. In fact, it’s a sentiment that many respected leaders, from Howard Shultz of Starbucks to Ginni Rometty, former CEO of IBM, share – each being open about the importance of their employees and treating them as partners in their company’s growth.
- Align personal and organisational goals
Of course, good leadership is also about good, selfless planning. Setting goals that align with the organisation’s mission, without being swayed by your own ambitions, is always essential. Leaders must ensure that what they do is in sync with company strategy, keeping employees and team members engaged by conducting regular performance reviews, where people can speak up about what they want. This ensures they’re on mutually beneficial career paths, allowing energies to be channelled into what’s best for the organisation with a sense of unity and purpose.
Involving teams in the goal-setting process likewise enhances loyalty, commitment and therefore performance. This is because it ensures everyone is working in the same strategic direction for success. A great example of this is Google’s OKR (Objectives and Key Results) framework, which aligns individual goals with company objectives for better engagement and results.
- Find a mentor
Another core aspect of leadership growth is mentorship. Engaging with a mentor not only provides external, objective perspectives on organisational progress but also provides an unrivalled opportunity to challenge assumptions and broaden horizons. A good mentor encourages continuous learning, reminding leaders it’s ok to take time to work things out and achieve even more progress through personal growth.
Regular interactions with other leadership figures also help CEOs stay grounded, providing a sounding board for ideas and innovation. This external input is invaluable for maintaining balance, allowing both personal objectives and organisational requirements to come to the fore. As Richard Branson of the Virgin Group emphasises, mentorship has played a key role in his personal and professional growth.
- Foster emotional intelligence
Finally, emotional intelligence is crucial for superior performance, even more so than technical skills and IQ. Leaders with a high emotional quotient (EQ) can better understand their own emotions as well as their people, fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for all. Continuous development in empathy, active listening and effective communication is therefore vital, helping to minimise unnecessary conflict and replacing common business woes with collaboration and personal and professional growth.
By way of example, former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, is widely recognised for her high emotional intelligence, emphasising the importance of empathy and understanding in her leadership approach. Indra would often take time to personally connect with employees and listen to them for closer working relationships, and her ability to manage emotions and foster a collaborative culture contributed significantly to PepsiCo’s growth and success during her tenure.
Your transformative leadership journey
Succeeding in a new leadership role is about learning to guide people with purpose and empathy for others. By embracing personal transformation, you can cultivate a much more supportive, inclusive and high-performing environment, where humility, self-awareness and guidance from others are used to elevate capabilities and drive ambitions towards collective success.
The journey to becoming a transformative leader is ongoing and dynamic, but with dedication and the right strategies, it’s a path that leads to lasting impact for both individuals and organisations alike.
Charlie Coode, Founder of Culture15