JAMES LAFFERTY ON LEADERSHIP

 YOUNG, SMART & RESTLESS

“My articles are basically targeted towards young people who have access to so much information especially as a result of information overload from the internet and this in turn makes them restless a s a result of the many options available. My articles would mainly be on providing clarity based primarily on my personal experiences and a mix of other content.”

With

David Apaflo, ACA

David, a chartered accountant,  is CEO at Shelze Consulting, a firm specializing in accounting, tax and business advisory services tailored towards supporting SMEs. David serves as business adviser to several startups and early stage companies in West Africa. Follow Shelze Consulting on twitter @shelzegroup. He also shares his thoughts on his personal blog 

A few years ago, I attended a seminar where Jim Lafferty then CEO CocaCola West Africa spoke on leadership. Going through my notes, I found some timeless insights I would love to share with you. Items after this paragraph are from Jim.

Characteristics of good leaders

1. People respect them – What you need in the working place is respect not love.
2. People want to work for them.
3. People feel support & protection.
4. People are loyal to great leaders.
5. People admire them & aspire to be like them.

Leadership emotions are built upon actions, behaviours and interactions.

12 leadership’s behaviours

1. Humble & human – not afraid to admit mistakes, great leaders admit their humanity.

2. Live by the principle “in third”

3. Brutal, 100% honesty, in all shapes and forms.

4. Demand truth and honesty in return and reward it.

5. Do what is right no matter the price.

• A principle is not a principle until it costs you something.
• Leaders must be above reproach.

6. Eliminate the following 3 words: Positioning. Bureaucracy. Politics.

7. Great leaders dream BIG.

8. Have the guts to take risks – calculated risks.

9. When you do something, do it with passion, or don’t do it at all.

10. Believe anything is possible – never say “can’t”.

11. Stay calm when the gun is against your head.

12. Seek to be different.