The Power of 10 in Leadership: Lessons Learned from My Journey!

Leadership is a journey that requires a continuous pursuit of growth and learning. As I reflect on my personal journey, I realize that there are 10 key areas of focus that have helped me become a more effective leader. I am calling them "The Power of 10 in Leadership." In this article, I want to share how these 10 areas of focus have helped shape my approach.

1. The Power of Listening: Early on in my career, I realized the importance of active listening. As a young manager, I thought I had all the answers, but I quickly learned that listening to my team's feedback was crucial for making informed decisions. By taking the time to listen to my team's needs and concerns, I was able to make better decisions that supported their growth and success.
2. The Importance of Empathy: As I moved up the ranks, I realized the importance of empathy in leadership. I began to understand the value of understanding my team's perspective and how it created a positive work environment where everyone felt valued and respected. By putting myself in their shoes, I was able to connect with them on a deeper level and create a culture of openness and honesty.
3. The Value of Transparency: As a leader, transparency has been a guiding principle for me. By being transparent with my team, I was able to build trust and create a culture of openness and honesty. This led to better communication, increased productivity, and a much stronger team.
4. The Benefits of Collaboration: Collaboration has been a key driver of success in my career. By working together, my team was able to leverage each other's strengths and skills to achieve better results. This also created a sense of community and helped create a positive work culture. Now, I make sure we exercise hyper-collaboration among the team.
5. The Importance of Self-Care: I am still not there myself, but I understand very well its importance. I know that taking care of myself is essential for being an effective leader. By prioritizing my own well-being, I can bring my best self to work and be a more effective. This means making time for exercise, getting enough sleep, and taking time to recharge.
6. The Value of Continuous Learning: As a lifelong learner myself, I have always prioritized continuous learning. By staying up to date on industry trends and developing new skills, especially soft skills, I was able to become a more effective leader. This has helped me adapt to changing market conditions and lead my team through challenging times.
7. The Importance of Feedback: Feedback has been crucial for my growth and development as a leader, even when I was a CEO. Thanks to my team and certainly my peers, I was able to identify areas for improvement and make meaningful changes. This also fostered a culture of continuous improvement and helped everyone reach their full potential.
8. The Power of Positive Reinforcement: Positive reinforcement has been a powerful tool for motivating my team. By recognizing and rewarding good work, I was able to create a positive work environment where everyone felt appreciated and valued. This also helped reinforce desired behaviors and created a culture of excellence and going beyond.
9. The Importance of Flexibility: Flexibility has been essential for adapting to changing circumstances. As a leader, I have had to be open to new ideas and ways of doing things. This has allowed me to pivot when necessary and create a culture of innovation.
10. The Value of Trust: Trust has been the foundation of any successful team that I have been a part of. By building trust with my team, I was able to create a culture of openness, honesty, and accountability. This allowed my team to work together more effectively and achieve better results. This also enabled a habit of good delegation where my team members could do things outside their comfort zone and not part of their job, therefore a room for growth and learning new skills.

Incorporating these 10 areas of focus into our leadership approach is not just about improving our own skills as leaders; it's also about creating a better future for our teams and organizations.

As Simon Sinek said,

"Leadership is not about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge."

By focusing on skills like listening, empathy, transparency, collaboration, self-care, continuous learning, feedback, positive reinforcement, flexibility, and trust, we can take care of our teams and create a culture of excellence. Though this will take time to implement, some good apples will fall off the tree. And that is OK!

Take, for example, the words of the former CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi :

"Leadership is hard to define, and good leadership is even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader."

By incorporating these 10 areas of focus into our leadership approach, we can become great leaders who inspire and empower our teams to achieve great things, eventually making a positive impact on our communities and the world.

Try to incorporate "The Power of 10 in Leadership" into our approach, and watch as your teams and organizations thrive.

Thank you for taking the time to read my short article on "The Power of 10 in Leadership", dated April 11, 2023. I hope that these insights and reflections have inspired you to take a fresh look at your own leadership approach and consider incorporating these 10 areas of focus into your own leadership journey. Remember, leadership is a continuous journey of growth and development, and by prioritizing these key skills and qualities, we can all become more effective and impactful leaders.

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