You don’t have to be a genius to be a leader of genius!
- Author: Kevin Gaskell
- Word Count: 448
Read the news article
I have been leading companies for 25 years, You don’t have to be a genius to be a leader of genius! – my earliest challenges were to rebuild a broken Porsche brand and then to inspire the team at BMW GB to achieve a 500% improvement in profit while transforming the service levels of an industry.
Since then, Kevin Gaskell has founded start-ups, driven turnarounds and built companies in numerous sectors. Our teams have won awards and been recognised as some of the best in the world. They have also created over GBP 3 billion in shareholder value.
Now that the immediate shock of the pandemic is receding, we need to lead our teams in a way which encourages agility and dynamic growth. My view is that people are incredible. Ordinary people, led well, can achieve extraordinary results. I believe that people can be inspired to stop chasing immediate rewards but rather think about building something that lasts, creating something of which they are proud. The principles and techniques of inspirational leadership are transferable. I help leaders and teams to deliver them:
1. High performance begins and ends with engagement. The leader’s role is to establish a clear vision of success. Everyone needs to understand what success will look like, what it will sound like and what it will feel like. What will it mean for the customer when we get there? Everyone in the team has a role to play so we give them the opportunity to get excited and engaged.
2. Challenges are opportunities for growth. Address the fear of change by discussing the new status we are striving for. Evaluate carefully the opportunities and the marketplace and deal only in facts. Get excited together by being enthusiastic about the freedom to make real and substantial change. Invite team members to move quickly.
3. Make it easy for the team to contribute. Build a clear, but simple, plan. Share it. Invite comments and ideas. Excite the high performers to become leaders at every level in the organisation. Be totally inclusive of talent and ideas – let people dream! Communicate the successes of individual’s ideas and improvements.
4. Praise first, challenge later. Provide regular feedback. Make heroes of the high performing teams by praising their approach to a challenge. A positive approach can be transferable to other areas. Leadership is about creating a positive culture and letting the team run. It is not the end of the world if it goes wrong.
5. Recognise that people are amazing. Leading teams to high performance is about creating the belief that ideas and challenge are progress. Set a positive example, be approachable, consistent, and make champions visible. Positive belief is an energy which transfers to others.
Further articles you may enjoy:
- (5)
In March 2020, when the world shut down and my live event calendar was wiped clean—I was concerned about working virtually and leading through adversity As my speaking business went online, I wondered if it would survive the transformation. Would I still have an impact? Would I still matter? I’m sure you asked yourself similar […]
- December 22, 2022
- (41)
Elevating the Customer Experience at Airports: How Airports are Enhancing Every Passenger’s Journey For travelers around the world, airports serve as the gateway to their adventures and journeys, but this Customer Experience at Airports can often be challenging due to stress, long lines, and crowds. In response, airports have started transforming their customer experience (CX) […]
- October 31, 2024
- (25)
Mastering the Art of Emceeing: A Guide to Making Your Mark as a Great Host Introduction: The role of an emcee goes far beyond simply introducing speakers and keeping the event on schedule. A skilled emcee has the power to captivate an audience, set the tone, and elevate the overall experience for everyone involved. Whether […]
- January 7, 2024
- (9)
As a keynote speaker on the topics of leadership, connection, resilience, and relationships, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about empathy versus compassion over the past year and Why Leaders Must Choose Compassion Over Empathy. In fact, in my virtual presentations on personal connection, I quickly became aware of the buzzwords associated with […]
- January 18, 2023
- (20)
The Power of Motivational Sales Speakers: Keynote Themes, Takeaways, and Audience Impact In the fast-paced world of business, sales professionals face constant challenges that demand not only skill but also a resilient mindset. Motivational sales speakers play a critical role in empowering these professionals, providing the inspiration, tools, and strategies needed to achieve success. Whether […]
- August 14, 2024
- (28)
Speakers Inc is your Unique Speaker Bureau International in today’s fast-paced world, where the success of an event hinges on delivering impactful and memorable experiences, event planners require a partner who understands their needs inside and out. Enter Speakers Inc, the Unique Speaker Bureau International and ultimate solution for sourcing world-class keynote speakers, emcees, and […]
- October 9, 2024
- (5)
You’ve seen it before where Celebrity Speakers Are a Waste of Money. A big conference rolls out the red carpet for some A-list celebrity, hyped as the highlight of the event. But when they hit the stage, all you get is a generic, uninspired speech that could’ve been ripped from a self-help book. 💰 Thousands […]
- January 30, 2025
- (13)
Easter is obviously when Christians celebrate a miracle that is central to our faith in Creating Distinction. We are also in the seasons of Ramadan and Passover. Although my work here is never intended to be about any particular set of spiritual beliefs, it struck me when thinking about these observances that having faith — […]
- December 20, 2022
