Optimal Edge with Eugene Nwosu
In the high-stakes world of business, we constantly see CEOs being replaced. Why is that? It’s a simple answer: many fail to meet the expectations of their shareholders. When it comes to corporations and groups whose perceived success or failure is tied to the price of their stock, the expectation is a simple one: profit. The bottom line often drives every decision made by the leaders of those groups.
But how does this management style affect the rest of the organisation? If you have ever worked in an environment where profit came before people, you know the answer. And it goes against out natural instincts as caring human beings. Suffice to say if employees don’t find a sense of purpose in their work, they might as well not be there at all. This sense of meaning is driven by their leader, whose responsibilities are both practical and symbolic.
Leaders are architects, making practical decisions on how their companies will operate. They are also visionaries, in the stories they tell and the actions they take. When employees see these qualities in their leader, they are much more likely to respond in a positive way that will affect the organisation in kind.
The exceptional leader’s accomplishments differentiate greatly from financial success to personal success. Their fulfillment does not come from what he or she amasses, but from the lasting impact he or she can help instill in others. He or she constantly strives to improve his or her own leadership skills through influence so he or she can, in turn, help to improve the leadership skills of countless others.
So how have you defined success in your life? When you’re driven by your convictions and your desire to find a sense of fulfillment in your work, instead of just a paycheque, your team or organisation will instinctively follow. You are their leader, after all. It’s important to note that if visionaries set out to simply to make a living, our world would not be the same. When your convictions come to the forefront and your desire to lead toward fulfillment breaks through, only then will you be able to exponentially elevate your capabilities as a leader.
It’s clear you are in a position of leadership for one reason: You have the desire to become more. The following seven fundamentals of effective and extraordinary leadership can assist you as you strive to become an even more effective leader in your life:
- Vision: To be effective a leader has to have a clear vision. A sense of mission or purpose will drive both you and those around you.
- Conviction: A leader must be convinced that he or she is doing the right thing. A strong sense of conviction will allow you to get the job done no matter what.
- Passion: The leader must exude passion and be able to communicate and transfer his or her vision and mission to others by moving them emotionally.
- Strategy: A leader has to be a strategist. You have to be able to know how to get from Point A to Point Z, using a specific approach that is well thought out.
- Humility: A leader must be humble and humane to the core. A leader must show compassion; often times be flexible and display some humour to effectively bring balance to your personality – It will help you not to take yourself too seriously.
- Rapport: A leader must be likable. Building rapport allows others to see your passion and sense of certainty, which will heighten your effectiveness.
- Consistency: A leader must be consistent. Being consistent as a leader will make you believable and effective.
Read these fundamentals and grade yourself on a scale of one to 10. If there is an area that may need improvement, make a commitment to improve it. Step up and do it today – it’s what leaders do.
Eugene Nwosu is founder of Optimal Edge. He is a trained life and business coach and author of two best-selling books Optimal Edge and Cut Your Own Firewood – The Ultimate Power to Succeed.
