A time to reflect and rethink how we lead. The world around us is constantly shifting, creating opportunities and threats. Leadership cannot be passive, cannot be complacent. Neither arrogant nor distant.
Leadership is often about simplicity – the clarity of an objective, discipline of execution, and courage to lead with authenticity.
I shared my experience on the power of relationships between leaders and teams. As a leader, investing in those relationships, going beyond command and control, channelling empathy, an ability to look up and look down, will significantly improve your success.
Early in my career, I worked under a boss whose influence still shapes how I lead today. He was intentional about building connections with team members. His approach helped me become deliberate about not disappointing him, not out of fear, but out of respect for the relationship we built. He trusted me – I wanted to repay that trust. He invested in me, challenged me, and pushed me beyond what I thought I was ready for. And sometimes, that push came in very unexpected ways.
I recalled occasions he took me out to eat. Not the eating you’re comfortable with, the kind that tests you. One day, it was at a Japanese restaurant in London and it was chopsticks. I would sit there, struggling quietly, while plotting my escape, I would pretend I was full, leave the restaurant, and then go and find food elsewhere. But those moments mattered. It wasn’t about food. It was about the connection, exposure, and learning beyond the office.
Those experiences stuck with me and I am intentional about connecting with my team and exposing them beyond our work places. As leaders we must know that an enabling environment matters more than just authority. A leader removes obstacles for others. We have to remove hurdles to enable our people deliver. Leaders don’t just commit to tasks; they commit to people.
As we begin the year, let us reflect on our approach.
– Leadership is not about hierarchy; it is about engagement.
– Make yourself accessible, build real relationships and meaningful connections with your team.
– Remain open to doing things differently. We cannot do things the same way and expect different results.
– Create an enabling environment and allow people to take ownership of their work.
– Clear obstacles. Uproot roadblocks.
If we continue to lead with conviction, build trust, remove road blocks and execute without excuses, the results will follow, not by chance, but by design.
By Tony Elumelu