When we talk about leading and excelling in turbulent times in terms of business and relationship management, a leader who want to survive must look beyond making change to the traditional P7 ( Products, Promotions, policies, Processes, Procedures, Pricing and People) and implementing them. Until I am creative and adaptive, my business and relationship will not survive in turbulent times.
Who is a leader?
Leaders are men who think outside the box, they are men who shift their focus from the traditional ways of doing things, they are creative.
We can therefore say effective leaders know until they are changed, they cannot improve their lives, organizational life and multiply their influence.
What is turbulence?
It is a Sudden change in national polices, business day to day running, organizational structure e.t.c. Confusion, disagreement or violence time.
Why do I implicate “me” and “change” me instead of make changes to P7. Friends, until we are able to point accusing finger to ourselves and blame ourselves as a result os the problems in our investment, business, family and relationship, we might not be able to scale through turbulent times. Note: until we are able to do business with ourselves, manage ourselves and lead ourselves, we will not be able to create the atmosphere that will draw attention and traffic to us and our businesses. This makes me to ask who a leader is meant to lead. Note; as a leader you must lead yourself and conquer yourself before the world will follow you.
Friends it is natural to do away with what is causing you problem or change it, so how do I change myself in the business I own or relationship I initiated?
How to change yourself?
1. Make growth your goal: you must strive to keep growing because the life of the organization depends on your life. It is the only way to improve the organization. When you stop growing the organization stop improving as well.
2. Be a lifetime learner: this is the only way that will keep you going, leading well and continually increasing you influence over time. It is only through learning we can develop our leadership skill to perform in turbulent time. Our behaviors under fire is a valuable lesson, for emerging leaders and followers as well. It will help you develop the skill that will help your listening capacity because listening reduces anxiety. It will also help you to learn how to talk even when there is too much to say to reduce rumors or prevent it from spreading. Learning is critical for stability and guidance to followers and other leaders it help cultivate strong leadership cultural values.
3. Never think you have arrived: the moment you think you have arrived and there is nothing new under the sun, the organization will start to decline. This thought of having arrived brings in pride which naturally goes before a fall. It make you think of yourself more than any other person around you, don’t forget your business is a relationship and it is people you need to solve their problem for your problem to e solved.
4. Be hard on yourself: ask yourself true questions, Who exactly am i? Am I a tyrant or a team builder? (note; it takes team to succeed… football…tyrant:- a person who has complete power and authority in a country or business/investment even in family and use it in a cruel and unfair manner. (Permit me here to say, this is the definition of African leaders and business owners.) They see power and authority as a means to an end). Am I someone that like to give instructions or ask questions? Do you come down on people? Or lift people up (e.g. as the CEO, arrive in the office and the office is unkempt, yet the secretary sits down watching TV, or doing something different, what will be your reaction?
5. Have self knowledge: friends, until we investigate ourselves, the people will not respect us. It is self knowledge that enhances your personal transformation. Having self knowledge means you have to explore deep within your thoughts and feelings. When you take out time to explore yourself, this will reveal your Strength, Weakness, Temperament, Work habits. You will learn how to appreciate and what to appreciate people with; It will help you develop good sense of where you are and where you are going and how to get there. You will know what you are capable of doing and you will know your values i.e. your ethical values, relationship values, success values and business values. Note, as a leader, your values are the soul of your leadership. Because it comes from your believe. It is this values that drive your behaviors. As a leader when you don’t have strong values, it reflects in the organization or investment.
