Tips on leadership from the best

For every business, no matter how big or small, one factor is essential in ensuring that employees are engaged, motivated and prepared to give their all to make the business a success. Leadership.

A strong leader sets the tone for an organisation, its values and its culture. Strong leaders inspire hearts. They rule with respect. They lead by example. They exude positivity, and push people and teams forward, focusing on what ‘can’ be possible, rather than what can’t.

This month, we’ve been considering the ways that the strongest leaders inspire their employees to go above and beyond.

Here are some of our favourite words of inspiration, from those who’ve done it best:

David Ogilvy, ’The Father of advertising’ on recruiting the best talent: ‘Hire people that are better than you are, then leave them to get on with it. Look for people who aim to be remarkable, not those who settle for routine.’

Steve Jobs, Apple, on being constructive with your team: ‘My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to make them better.’

Steven Covey, Sales guru, on practising what you preach: ‘What you do, and the way you act, has far greater impact on an employee than what you say to them.’

Sir Richard Branson, CEO, Virgin, on letting people make mistakes: ‘You don’t learn to walk by following rules, you learn by doing, and by falling over.’

Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook, on inspiring and encouraging: ‘Leadership is about making others feel better as a result of your presence, and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.’

And our final word on leadership, from the great Jack Welch, Former CEO of GE;

‘Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.’