Sir Richard Branson had his first jolt of entrepreneurial success when he published a magazine at 16. Since then, he’s become a respected leader of cutting-edge enterprises and an inspiring pioneer of humanitarian projects. Hundreds of businesses later and billions of dollars wealthier, he shares with me his top three leadership tips.
Branson’s first chunk of advice is to find good people and listen to them. “Assemble a great management team that has a vision, passion and a real sense of ownership,” he says. “Look for leaders who listen - both to employees and customers,” adding further that what results in brilliant customer service and innovative product development are leaders who seek the feedback of their employees and customers.
“When things start going wrong, it’s often because staff members feel they are being ignored and good ideas are not bubbling to the top,” he says, explaining that the best CEOs are not concerned with the size of their office “or the thickness of the carpet”, and instead place greater emphasis on unearthing what their employees are thinking and feeling.
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Branson’s second leadership pointer is that employees aren’t just resources working in the business; they are the business. “A successful business isn’t the product or service, its supply chain or its corporate culture: it is a group of people bound together by a common purpose and vision,” he says. “The best-designed business plan will come to nothing if it is not carried out by an enthusiastic and passionate staff.”
He’s emphatic about the difference this makes when stuff-ups occur. A team of friendly and proactive employees can win customers over, but a team of cold and disinterested workers just make a tough situation worse. “The manager must back this up by looking for the best in people,” he says. “Rather than focusing on mistakes, catch someone doing something right every day.”
Which leads to the one leadership action that’s easier to... [continues]
Branson’s first chunk of advice is to find good people and listen to them. “Assemble a great management team that has a vision, passion and a real sense of ownership,” he says. “Look for leaders who listen - both to employees and customers,” adding further that what results in brilliant customer service and innovative product development are leaders who seek the feedback of their employees and customers.
“When things start going wrong, it’s often because staff members feel they are being ignored and good ideas are not bubbling to the top,” he says, explaining that the best CEOs are not concerned with the size of their office “or the thickness of the carpet”, and instead place greater emphasis on unearthing what their employees are thinking and feeling.
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Branson’s second leadership pointer is that employees aren’t just resources working in the business; they are the business. “A successful business isn’t the product or service, its supply chain or its corporate culture: it is a group of people bound together by a common purpose and vision,” he says. “The best-designed business plan will come to nothing if it is not carried out by an enthusiastic and passionate staff.”
He’s emphatic about the difference this makes when stuff-ups occur. A team of friendly and proactive employees can win customers over, but a team of cold and disinterested workers just make a tough situation worse. “The manager must back this up by looking for the best in people,” he says. “Rather than focusing on mistakes, catch someone doing something right every day.”
Which leads to the one leadership action that’s easier to... [continues]
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