11 Apr Jack Welch: Traditional Leadership Roles

Looking at what has traditionally worked in the past, Jack Welch, a respected business leader and writer, proposes a few fundamental leadership principles that can help a leader successfully pin-point their roles;

1. There is only one way – the straight way. It sets the tone of the organisation.

2. Be open to the best of what everyone, everywhere, has to offer; transfer learning across your organisation.

3. Get the right people in the right jobs – it is more important than developing a strategy.

4. An informal atmosphere is a competitive advantage.

5. Make sure everybody counts and everybody knows they count.

6. Legitimate self-confidence is a winner – the true test of self-confidence is the courage to be open.

7. Business has to be fun.

8. Never underestimate the other guy.

9. Understand where real value is added and put your best people there.

10. Know when to meddle and when to let go – this is pure instinct

Jack Welch also proposes that as a leader, your main priority is to get the job done, whatever the job is. He suggests that leaders make things happen by:

• Knowing your objectives and having a plan how to achieve them

• Building a team committed to achieving the objectives

• Helping each team member to give their best efforts

To be a great leader and successfully know how to direct a team, you must know yourself. Identify your own strengths and weaknesses, so that you can build the best team around you.

Slater, Robert. (2003). 29 Leadership Secrets from Jack Welch. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003. Print.