Become a Leader - Rule # 10 - Heinecke's 21 Golden Rules on Global Business Management

Become a Leader

Rule # 10 from "The Entrepreneur"

February 8, 2007

In "The Entrepreneur", a book authored by self-made millionaire William Heinecke, former US president Harry Truman was quoted as saying "Leadership is the ability to get other people to do what they don't want to do, and like it." But as Heinecke also acknowledged, this is something that's easier said than done.

Heinecke also quoted what David Ogilvy had to say about great leaders. According to Ogilvy, great leaders exude self-confidence, are never petty, do not pass the buck, pick themselves up after defeat, are fanatically committed to their jobs, and do not suffer from the crippling need to be universally loved. They have the guts to make unpopular decisions, including firing people who do not perform to expectations. A leader must also possess infectious optimism and the determination to persevere in the face of difficulties.

Being a great leader is Rule # 10 in Heinecke's 21 Golden Rules on Global Business Management. In "The Entrepreneur", Rule # 10 is simply stated as follows: Become a leader.

Heinecke admits that being a good leader is difficult to define. Each leader has his or her own style of leadership. According to him, however, a leader must always remember to do the following.

1. Motivate. Leaders must not forget that people want to feel important. Always stress the significance of the job they are handling.

2. Listen. A good leader needs to be a good listener - asking the right questions and creating an ambience of participation.

3. Trust your team. Your team will not give you their 100% if you don't trust them. Delegating work to others is a form of trust, but you must not abdicate responsibility when you delegate.

4. Say thanks. A simple 'thank you' for a job well done, when said sincerely, is a very powerful motivator. Good leaders must know how to thank their employees.

5. Be courteous. This is a 'given', but many people in high places forget the importance of courtesy to other people. A cheerful, kind, and positive demeanor is a huge asset, says Heinecke.

6. Keep your ear to the ground. The only way to avert an impending crisis is to boost awareness of what's going on in your surroundings at all times.

7. Be flexible. Even people with the highest level of commitment to the organization have lives outside work. Let people have a reasonable amount of time for their leisure and recreation.

8. Stay cool under pressure. If your people see you in panic or behaving erratically during a crisis, they themselves will feel hopeless.

9. Lead by example. Heinecke believes in being first into the office and last out of it, especially during difficult times. People will respond positively if you are a 'visible' good example to them.

10. Be an expert. Your staff must recognize that you know what you are talking about.

11. Stay humble. We don't have to be reminded that all our customers are more important than we are. As such, we can not afford to be too big for our boots.

12. Have a sense of humor. Heinecke suggests in his book that you should pack it in and go home now if you don't have a sense of humor. :)

13. Celebrate. Don't be shy nor afraid to bring the champagne out when the going gets good.

Heinecke believes that a company mustn't be run by democracy. An entrepreneur must be a leader who can make hard decisions and take risks. Make your share of mistakes in being decisive. At least, if you fail, you know that it was your own decision, and not that of someone you had doubts in from the start.

Have Fun In Your Work; Work Hard, Play Hard; Use Other People's Brains;

Set Goals; Trust Your Intuition; Reach for the Sky;

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