The Bad Boy of Business Wants You to Be Good
In which universe would you predict that the same man who brought the Sex Pistols to the masses would go on to start and lead more than 300 companies in 34 countries worth a combined total of US$21 billion in revenue? And even if you could envision that, how would you expect this same person to decide that?at the core of all these companies?there should be an element of world-saving and social good? You might know Sir Richard Branson for this stunt or that world record, but there?s much more that he wants to accomplish, and he wants you to do the same with your company, too.
Branson has a lot to say on leadership. He?s published several books on it, but in his latest work, Screw Business as Usual, this showman?s showman has pushed harder than ever to highlight that he feels a core responsibility of leaders is to consider a global view, no matter how local or otherwise their businesses may be. This view, seven years in the making, as he says, is worth considering.
He has an easy smile, mischievous eyes, and a rogue?s long hair and goatee. Oh, and he owns and lives on his own island. If you look up success, in my dictionary, anyway, there?s a big full-colour (probably foldout) picture of Branson. It?s only right that he is pushing for you to align your leadership principles with his, at least in this regard: The world needs saving and your company needs a leader who thinks beyond the stock price or the success of your store?s front counter.
Branson?s Virgin Unite foundation states that its mission is to ?connect people and entrepreneurial ideas to make change happen. To help revolutionise the way government, business and the social sector work together? business as a force for good.? The first spark of this concept came from a simple way to remind everyone in his companies that this was everyone?s business, and not just the work of nonprofits and charities.
?When someone mentioned that the circumference of the earth is 24,902 miles, Capitalism 24902 was born!? This is his term for how he wants other C-level folks to think about business going forward. ?[It?s] very simple really, it does what it says on the tin? that every single business person has the responsibility for taking care of the people and planet that make up our global village, all 24,902 circumferential miles of it,? Branson explains.
How Do You Become a Better Leader?
When you run 300 companies, you are a leader of leaders. Branson and his senior team are in the business of creating people who can build and manage teams that will execute on his ideas, but that will also innovate and improve on everything he?s conceived. I asked him for advice on being a better leader.
?One of the best bits of advice I can give other leaders is to try and put yourself out of business. Try and find people to take over 99 per cent of what you do, which will then free you up to think about the bigger picture.? Branson believes strongly that your role as leader is to empower the people you?ve put in charge of the business. With that 99 per cent of your time that people take off your hands, you?re left with a little extra time. What do you do with that? ?Most likely, you?ll come up with ways of helping the person you put in charge in a better way than you would have done had you tried doing it yourself.?
Potential Clash of Leadership and Personality
The word personality, if you slow down to look at it, means one?s personal nature, one?s way of being. Corporations aren?t exactly well-known for allowing one?s personality to stay intact. I asked Branson about how one leads in a way that encourages personality and, dare I say it, individuality. ?I do think a lot of things stem from the top, which is why new bad leaders introduced into a company can destroy a whole ethos very quickly. It?s so important to find leaders who genuinely care about people to run the companies.?
Branson?s sense of adventure and fun also permeates all he does and creates. There are his famous hot-air balloon successes and mishaps, and his love of breaking records. (He apparently tried to be the best at nighttime miniature golf at the Black Light Mini Golf course in Australia. He didn?t get the gold, but he did come in at 4 under par.) Publicity does seem to seep out of Branson in all he does.
? www.success.com
Branson has a lot to say on leadership. He?s published several books on it, but in his latest work, Screw Business as Usual, this showman?s showman has pushed harder than ever to highlight that he feels a core responsibility of leaders is to consider a global view, no matter how local or otherwise their businesses may be. This view, seven years in the making, as he says, is worth considering.
He has an easy smile, mischievous eyes, and a rogue?s long hair and goatee. Oh, and he owns and lives on his own island. If you look up success, in my dictionary, anyway, there?s a big full-colour (probably foldout) picture of Branson. It?s only right that he is pushing for you to align your leadership principles with his, at least in this regard: The world needs saving and your company needs a leader who thinks beyond the stock price or the success of your store?s front counter.
Branson?s Virgin Unite foundation states that its mission is to ?connect people and entrepreneurial ideas to make change happen. To help revolutionise the way government, business and the social sector work together? business as a force for good.? The first spark of this concept came from a simple way to remind everyone in his companies that this was everyone?s business, and not just the work of nonprofits and charities.
?When someone mentioned that the circumference of the earth is 24,902 miles, Capitalism 24902 was born!? This is his term for how he wants other C-level folks to think about business going forward. ?[It?s] very simple really, it does what it says on the tin? that every single business person has the responsibility for taking care of the people and planet that make up our global village, all 24,902 circumferential miles of it,? Branson explains.
How Do You Become a Better Leader?
When you run 300 companies, you are a leader of leaders. Branson and his senior team are in the business of creating people who can build and manage teams that will execute on his ideas, but that will also innovate and improve on everything he?s conceived. I asked him for advice on being a better leader.
?One of the best bits of advice I can give other leaders is to try and put yourself out of business. Try and find people to take over 99 per cent of what you do, which will then free you up to think about the bigger picture.? Branson believes strongly that your role as leader is to empower the people you?ve put in charge of the business. With that 99 per cent of your time that people take off your hands, you?re left with a little extra time. What do you do with that? ?Most likely, you?ll come up with ways of helping the person you put in charge in a better way than you would have done had you tried doing it yourself.?
Potential Clash of Leadership and Personality
The word personality, if you slow down to look at it, means one?s personal nature, one?s way of being. Corporations aren?t exactly well-known for allowing one?s personality to stay intact. I asked Branson about how one leads in a way that encourages personality and, dare I say it, individuality. ?I do think a lot of things stem from the top, which is why new bad leaders introduced into a company can destroy a whole ethos very quickly. It?s so important to find leaders who genuinely care about people to run the companies.?
Branson?s sense of adventure and fun also permeates all he does and creates. There are his famous hot-air balloon successes and mishaps, and his love of breaking records. (He apparently tried to be the best at nighttime miniature golf at the Black Light Mini Golf course in Australia. He didn?t get the gold, but he did come in at 4 under par.) Publicity does seem to seep out of Branson in all he does.
? www.success.com
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