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What influences profits and other business outcomes?
Regardless of whether you go in business ethically or not, as a leader you must always learn to have a minimum of 10 items from the list below and an additional 8, which in total make up the so-called Leadership Mindset:
- Self-confidence and courage – to make others feel that the leader can be trusted to have clout;
- Assertiveness in communication – not to be manipulated, to be able to discuss and not withdraw from your ideas;
- Idea for yourself – to be expressive;
- Business vision – to know the direction in which you are going and achieve results. A leader without a vision is not a leader;
- Ability to convince to your ideas, projects – to have people who will support you in achieving your vision;
- Predicting people’s behavior – to always be prepared for conversations, discussions, criticisms. High Emotional Intelligence in business is the key to long-term effects;
- Anticipating market trends – to develop the company and not be left behind to build a competitive advantage and not to wreak havoc;
- Network of contacts – to always be able to contact the right person for support, knowledge, finances;
- Brand building ability – to be recognizable so that the name of the leader is associated with a person trustworthy and / or valuable for cooperation;
- Specialist knowledge – to have an advantage in the field of business, product, knowledge that no one has;
The next elements of Leadership Mindset depend on the specific personality of the leader and his industry. If you would like to learn about them, I invite you to the Leadership Mindset workshop. Click on the graphic below to find out more.
How to achieve profits, influence and other business effects?
If you want to achieve business results, have people’s respect and all of the above 10 elements of Leadership Mindset, you have three ways:
- sure
- gray,
- dark.
I write about gray and dark in this article. I do not support them, but at the same time I believe that some of their elements are important and useful on the light side of the force, i.e. the honest, ethical one.
Below I present a set of various controversial CEMK s, i.e. C ech, E strength, M enthusiasm and C ompetence of leaders. I do it on the example of two brilliant series: Billions from Showtime (available in the world, among others on HBO GO) and House of Cards from Netflix. The main characters both fascinate and scare you away. They inspire, but also show how not to act.
The brutal truth is that you will meet people on the gray and dark sides of the force on your way (or have already met). They are entrepreneurs, managers, directors and even CEOs who contradict what is written in books, what leaders learn. With them, all Business Academies and Leader Universities seem to be a theory.
Big earnings or big businesses can be achieved by being, as I call it: an efficient business dodger or an authentic leader who is guided by the so-called Leadership Mindset.
As a current or future leader, you must make constant choices. Among other things, the one on which side you are and which path you are taking. The temptations and the rewards are great: influence, power, money, admiration. The threats are enormous: financial losses, pressure, jealousy, criticism.
The question is how do you want to get benefits and protect yourself from threats? Today in an article about the gray and dark road. On May 21st and 22nd for the Clear Path webinar.
Features and Competencies of efficient business smarts
There are two types of proficient business dodgers. Honest at the border and dishonest. Those whom you can trust and those with whom you must be vigilant all the time.
Jedni is a profile of Bobby Axelrode from the Billions series, who is always on the verge of law and ethics, but is loyal to his boss, although he will never be a supportive one, unless he feels for you great respect.
The second is the type of Frank Underwood from House of Card s for whom nothing but power matters.
Let’s look at their specific behaviors and attitudes that characterize them.
Focus on the goal – the goal is the most important. They will sacrifice anyone. The difference is that Bobby will protect his loved ones. Perhaps Frank, if it is in his best interests.
They do not give a second chance – if someone fails, proves weak, he is written off. No pity for the weak.
Both will use every chance to gain the upper hand. They will take advantage of every weakness to: in the case of Bobby: make money, in the case of Frank: gain power.
They are very self-sensitive. If you criticize or deceive them, you become enemy No. 1. They will not be offended or stressed out. They will just destroy you.
The family is far behind in their hierarchy of values. Bobby has children, but he is not interested in them. Frank has no children.
Frank’s main goal is power for power. All ideas and development of the country are only slogans and tools for gaining power. Bobby’s main goal is to develop the company for the company’s development. There is no idea of building something for the country, for generations. It creates no value for customers except money.
Smart. Bobby is always looking for opportunities, business development opportunities. He is not hindered by concern for ecology, team, good relations and beautiful goals. He is looking for income. Frank is constantly trying to figure out which channel to come to power.
Both don’t care about the emotions of the other. They don’t care if someone takes offense at them, likes them or not. Bobby says: If you walk into a room where everyone hates you, you are doing your job well. Frank: Only the weak care about the opinion of others.
The oxygen for both is competition. Stress is a source of inspiration and adrenaline. The most difficult situations are a source of pleasure for them. Conflict is a boost. They sense weakness at a distance and take advantage of it with pleasure.
They have no idea of creating something for people and the world. They don’t work on the quality of services, relationships. They don’t have an inspiring vision. They don’t focus on motivating colleagues. They are more focused on setting strict boundaries so that no one gets on their minds.
They are losing patience with bullshit, delays, lack of competence. They don’t have understanding about what doesn’t work.
What’s the difference between Bobby Axelrod and Frank Undwerood?
The Bobby type values mostly money and knows that it is important to maintain influence and authority. Frank’s type only values power. He even loathes those who prefer money.
Bobby works in business and looks for a relationship with politics to be supported at key moments. Frank is involved in politics and is looking for a way to use business for his own purposes.
Bobby has a few friends to meet and talk to who value him not only for the money he makes. They respect him for his experience. Frank has one friend whom he once helped a lot, but whom he repels anyway, he takes advantage of. People only respect him because they are afraid of him.
Frank had everything he wanted and then lost it all. Wife, president, friend, life, name. Bobby has lost his wife, loses his relationship with his sons, but is alive, develops the company even though he almost lost it, his greatest enemy has become a friend, his best student has become his greatest enemy.
This is how the profiles of business and political shitstacks look like who fascinate on the screen, and in fact … they reject some, inspire others.
There is no doubt that we can learn something from them. Certainly, such people test our moral backbone and mental endurance. Business guides are not written about such people. But the fact is, there are many people like Bobby and Frank in business. Behind pretty smiles are those who have one goal: to win.
You can follow their path.
Or go another one.
You have to decide now, and you need to decide at least once a year, because the world will be tempting, it will test you. Being able to shape your moral backbone in life is very important. Being able to shape your business backbone is a must.
A clear business path also gives huge profits and influence, but is based on different values. It is possible. You can follow the path I call #LeadershipMindset which makes you feel confident, clear of mind and assertive.
It is the way of an authentic leader, which is based on the mindset, the beliefs of leaders make you have composure instead of frustration, and you have quick decisions instead of dilemmas. Leadership Mindset gives you the ability to bear responsibility and deal with conflicts, while caring for people.
Any book on management will tell you that a leader should:
- Set goals
- Delegate
- Motivate
- Control
- Build a team
And that’s true. But there is more. There is something more important that is not so obvious. Simply setting goals, delegating, etc. won’t bring you millions in profits.
