Four ways to become a better leader

We live in a complex society, characterized by momentous challenges which are pushing our managers, politicians and entrepreneurs to the very limit. No sector is safe from the changes we are facing and this means that only a long-term vision can bring prosperity and well-being to a nation, business or organization.

The economic, environmental, geopolitical, technological and social challenges we must face have generated considerable debate about the nature of leadership.

Just as a politician, or the CEO of a multinational, who must take into account countless variables, the owners of small and medium-sized enterprises now need to see the bigger picture and engage globally, by seeking to transform risks into extraordinary opportunities for their businesses, employees and the future of the community in which they operate.

For example, technology, the internet and telecommunications have accelerated processes, increased opportunities exponentially, created new productive sectors, cut through red tape and established links between the most far-flung places, while also showing that, as in everything else, a lack of leadership and vision can become insurmountable obstacles, especially for those who fail to seize the moment and make key decisions. “Carpe Diem” was the maxim our Roman ancestors would have used, especially vis-à-vis those managers, politicians and entrepreneurs who, for example, considered the internet to be nothing more than a passing fad.

In my work over the years, I have identified four aspects of leadership which I believe to be fundamental.

1. The importance of the team: the working relationship within an organization has been altered over the years by a whole host of internal and external factors. Several experts agree on how entire economic sectors have changed over just a few decades, with the disappearance of some firms and the arrival of new giants, such as technology enterprises. A close analysis of these new firms makes it clear that the word ‘team’ has become the bedrock of their success. The concept of an inflexible managerial hierarchy has fallen out of fashion, replaced by the exchange of visions and opinions within the working group. Communication is becoming ever more direct, immediate and constant. Cultural differences are seen as a strength and workplaces no longer as offices located far apart, but open spaces, where it is easy to meet with the managing director and have a chat, just like Google or Facebook. This new way of working has made the working group more compact, established a more meaningful relationship and given employees the chance to be themselves and to use their skills without fear, while offering leaders a more complete and shared vision, which may then prove helpful when it comes to making strategic choices.

2. A constant generator of positivity: When it comes to the behaviour of a leader within an organization, there are several schools of thought. Nevertheless, I believe that a leader must be a constant generator of positivity. A leader able to exude positivity helps maintain a calmer working environment. Yet this concept must not be misunderstood: being positive does not mean forgetting your goals, but rather ensuring that a goal is achieved without compromising the psycho-physical well-being of the people working on a project. In the same way, a constant generator of positivity is a leader who inspires ideas and curiosity within his/her working group. Two factors are essential when it comes to doing this successfully: humility and a willingness to listen. These are both crucial values and may make the difference in a world more competitive than ever before, where the overflow of available information rewards only those leaders able to pick out a signal from all the background noise.

3. Less-ego, more-sharing: The open-door policy and climate surveys are not enough to question initiatives for “working better”. New leaders have to mitigate their egos and have to be always searching for info and ideas from traditional and new media, from focusing on different interests, from the confrontation with employees and clients, schools, universities and other Companies, too. This is the same vision that embodies my new Foundation L.A.P.S.

4. There is a way to do it better, find it: I was lucky enough to work as the personal assistant to an extraordinary leader: Henry A. Kissinger. One of the most important lessons was to strive every day to be better than the day before. There is always a way to improve; one need only find it. Yet, the important thing is never to lose hope. To do so, it is necessary to consider a problem from several points of view, analyze a problem at different times and in different contexts to join all the dots, question yourself, start afresh, be able to recognize your mistakes and, lastly, know how and when to make decisions. Kissinger taught me that the best strategy for transmitting his idea of “do it better” is to set an example every day, by improving oneself and always seeking to improve the community around you, whether your colleagues, friends or family.