Want to be an Eff ective Leader? Follow These

Want to be an Eff ective Leader? Follow Th ese 12

By Jerry Kurt, Capgemini Americas

AFTER MORE THAN 30 years in business, there is one thing I can guarantee: rapid change. The business world is like an ocean current: in constant motion as industries innovate and technology changes at an ever-increasing rate. The most eff ective leaders embrace change and don’t hesitate to adapt.

Change is constant, but I also believe there are foundational building blocks of leadership that stand the test of time. Regardless of the industry, company, or moment in time, the characteristics that most successful leaders embody remain the same.

I share my point of view on this topic of leadership in hopes that readers can learn from it. That being said, I also welcome diff erent perspectives as I continually evolve as a leader myself. Whether it’s younger, aspiring leaders full of passion and curiosity or experienced leaders eager to sharpen their skills and approaches, I hope you will fi nd this article useful and relevant.

Here are 12 keys to becoming an eff ective leader: MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK

Aspiring leaders fi nd ways to be persistent without being obnoxious. It’s perfectly fi ne to stay in your lane and do your existing job well while also pushing the envelope to tackle new opportunities in areas that interest you. If you want something, ask for it . . . go get it. Don’t always wait for your career to happen. Make it happen.

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION

It’s hard enough to be an eff ective leader, but if you’re not passionate about the area you’re leading, how can you empower and motivate teams around you? Focus on following your passion(s), with the fi rst being to discover exactly what that is. If you aren’t sure, take steps to identify it by gaining new experiences in diff erent areas. Perhaps it’s a certain industry, a specifi c area of technology, or a desire to see the world. And remember: Your passion(s) can change over time.

IMPROVE YOUR PUBLIC SPEAKING

Without the confi dence to speak in front of groups, it’s tough to eff ectively lead large teams. There are opportunities to enhance your public speaking experience—if you know where to look. Whether it’s a presentation during an “all-hands call” or one to a client or project team, it’s important to create and seize opportunities to speak and share experiences in front of large groups.

BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE

2 Steps

Photo: Courtesy Capgemini Americas

My grandmother and father both taught me something very important, which is to make the eff ort to always be positive with a glass-half-full mentality. In the business world, habitual negativity is a slippery slope. Eff ective leaders shift their mindset to invoke positivity in those around them. Something that may have been an “issue” or “problem” can instead be an opportunity to improve. A positive infl uence is infectious—and makes the work more enjoyable for you and your employees. BE HUMBLE

Building on the previous point about being a positive infl uence, the most eff ective leaders understand the importance of humility. You may be the smartest person in the room, but others should come to that conclusion on their own by letting the work, results, and performance speak for themselves, rather than hearing you talk about how great you are. Leaders with big egos and selfcentered behavior eventually hit a wall.

BE WELL-ROUNDED

While it’s important to become an expert in something, eff ective leaders are also well-rounded and avoid demonstrating that they have a “tragic fl aw” that will slow down their career progression. Eff ective leaders tend to be “good or better” in most or all categories of leadership, such as people management, the ability to sell and deliver or produce results, interpersonal skills, relationshipbuilding skills, and more. You don’t necessarily need to be the best at something to succeed as a leader. However, in my experience, you do need to be well-rounded.

PRIORITIZE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Relationships are everything. For the countless projects I have worked on during my career, I have always strived to get along well with every person on the team. That starts with being genuine, investing time in these relationships, respecting all opinions, and being mindful of how you treat people. In many cases, it’s not what you say but how you say it that makes a lasting impression. Regardless of your role or experience level, eff ective leaders have the interpersonal skills to communicate eff ectively with anyone at any time.

COMMIT TO DEADLINES

I’m a huge believer in work-life balance. However, there are times in one’s career when deadlines are more important than having an “8 to 5” mentality. Eff ective leaders fi nd a way to achieve balance while also fi nding ways to meet important deadlines. Being committed to deadlines in addition to eff ort builds credibility and shows stakeholders that you are reliable and trustworthy, which often leads to additional responsibilities.

TAKE CARE OF YOU

While extra eff ort is needed in certain circumstances, nothing is more important than taking care of your own mental, physical, and