Leaders I Love

I spend quite a lot of time talking about things that make the workplace less than ideal or, as I phrase it, shit. But that's because I know it doesn't have to be that way. And I can point to examples of where it isn't.

So to get some perspective, I want to talk about a leader I love. One who is doing his best to get it right and working to create the best opportunity for workplace heaven. Somewhere where people are rewarded and valued.

Some leaders warm my heart, and Hubert Joly is one of them.

He is the former chairman and CEO of Best Buy, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, co-author of The Heart of Business, and has been recognised as one of the top CEOs in the world.

He talks about the 5 "Be's" of leadership that matter in business right now. These leave the hero leader - who is infallible and solves everything with their smarts and drive - far behind.

Be clear about your purpose.

Understand what drives you and the people around you and how that is expressed in the organisation's mission.

Be clear about your role.

He sees a "leader's key role is to create energy and momentum — especially when circumstances are dire. It's to help others see possibilities and potential, creating energy, inspiration, and hope."

Be clear about whom you serve.

Everyone is a customer, from the frontline to the board. They are who you serve. Not your ego. As a friend told him, "The best leaders don't climb their way to the top over the backs of others, they are carried to the top."

Be driven by values.

Do the right thing, not the expedient thing.

Be authentic.

He has stopped trying to keep emotion out of business. We are human. When he stepped down as CEO of Best Buy, he sent a video to all employees titled, "I love you". Who does that?

And to me, this is leadership - not leader-shit. And we should be ready to celebrate the great aspects of our leaders.

Who are the leaders that inspire you?

Check out this interview with Hubert Joly for more insights into his work. And the quotes are from a great article in Havard Business Review.

#makeworklessshit #leadersilove #leadership #culture