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)
Thanksgiving 2024, celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November, is a cherished American holiday that brings families and friends together to express gratitude and share a bountiful meal. Its origins trace back to 1621, when the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people shared an autumn harvest feast, marking one of the earliest instances of […]
- November 28, 2024
- (33)
We are only as unified as our loneliest team or Disconnected Worker community members. No one is immune to feeling lonely at work — not even the outgoing top sales associate, the customer success representative that brings her dog into the office, or the charming vice president who always declines every happy hour invitation due to “overcommitments.” […]
- December 23, 2022
- (6)
In this article you will discover 7 emotional management techniques . A person with poor emotional management in the workplace, or even in personal life, can have consequences such as being fired or failing to maintain a stable relationship. At work, those who do not have an awareness of their emotions are often someone who has difficulty appreciating and being appreciated […]
- January 15, 2023
- (9)
Tom Goodwin: The Trends Futurist Redefining Marketing and Innovation In a world obsessed with following trends, Tom Goodwin stands out for questioning them. He’s not the kind of speaker who walks on stage to reaffirm what everyone already believes. Instead, Tom challenges assumptions, pokes holes in comfortable narratives, and demands that we look at the […]
- May 1, 2025
- (8)
Heading to Dallas from Kansas City recently, I heard the familiar tone of the voice over the intercom start up and to Self Care When Burned: “Ladies and Gentlemen, we’ve got a full flight to Dallas today…” Travel is BACK and flights are almost always full again, so I couldn’t be surprised by what came […]
- February 28, 2023
- (1)
Kevin Gaskell seems to be meeting more and more people in business at the moment who are concerned that the economy is a bumpy ride and unpredictable. You can certainly feel a lot of turbulence in the air; Brexit, Trump, FX rates, inflation, Russia, Middle East, fake news etc. The truth is that if you […]
- January 13, 2023
- (10)
Motivational North American Keynote Speakers play a crucial role in inspiring individuals, organizations, and communities to unlock their full potential. With their compelling stories, expertise, and dynamic presentation styles, these speakers captivate audiences, leaving a lasting impact. In North America, there is a remarkable pool of motivational keynote speakers who have successfully transformed lives and […]
- June 4, 2023
- (55)
Why Felicia Pizzonia Is the Sales Speaker Your Next Conference Needs In today’s competitive market, sales isn’t just about closing deals, it’s about understanding human behavior, adapting your mindset, and building authentic connections. That’s exactly where Felicia Pizzonia excels. A best-selling author, dynamic entrepreneur, and sought-after keynote speaker, Felicia brings a powerful blend of science-backed […]
- May 15, 2025
