Inspire People With “WHY” and 12 Principles of Leadership
By: Borza Terjatev, Invoice Exchange
Tags: Leadership, Leadership Skills, Motivation, Entrepreneurship, Inspiration

(Author: Marko Rant, Co-founder and CEO of Invoice Exchange)

Simon Sinek, author and motivational speaker who studies behavioural patterns of successful individuals said: ‘There are leaders and there are those who lead’. His TED talk ‘How great leaders inspire action’ with more than 43 million views is one of the most watched TED talks and his book titled Start With Why is a bestseller.

I would like to sum up his philosophy in a few sentences; it goes something like this: companies, organizations and people usually know what they are doing in business and life (for example, I make cars for companies or I am a graphic designer). Inside this big population, fewer companies and people know how articulate how they do what they do — how are they different from others who are doing the same thing on the outside, what makes them special. With a little self-reflection, most people can find the answer on their how. But almost nobody does really know why they are doing what they are doing and what motivates them in their actions.

Why did the founder of Formula 1, Enzo Ferrari start making cars? And why did Elon Musk venture into the car industry with Tesla? The answers to this same question are completely different.

Leadership is about motivation. Really awesome leaders know how to inspire people around them to follow — not because they have to, but because they want to. Good leaders have a vision, the vision they understand and which they know how to present to people around them. People by nature follow leaders who know their vision and clearly communicate, and even better if this vision is also in harmony with their personal values. Good leaders don’t start with what, or with how. Good leaders start with why.

“When I was in college, I wanted to be involved in things that would change the world. Now I am.”

– Elon Musk

“I don’t care if the door gaps are straight. When the driver steps on the gas I want him to shit his pants.’

-Enzo Ferrari

12 principles of leadership

No man is an island, wrote the English poet John Donne. Nobody can actualize their vision completely by themselves, you always need some outside help. Coworkers who were inspired with your why must still be directed to the goal you set. You cannot go there alone, and they cannot be led by anybody else than you. A lot of businessmen and leaders fail at this point because of their lack of leadership skills and often resort to micromanagement.

“No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” - John Donne

I am testing a different approach at my own company Invoice Exchange. I honestly believe that the main role of a leader is to create a positive climate and environment in which every individual has a chance to develop his or her maximum potential and achieve the most. My role is to help my coworkers in the long run even at the cost of some short-term slips. How? There are the 12 principles of my leadership strategy below which were developed by experience and are communicated and encouraged with my coworkers:

1. Accept decisions!

People are afraid to accept decisions because decisions sure mean a choice for only one option. The decision means a risk that picked option will not bring the wanted result and letting go of all the other options. But it is necessary to accept the decision and that we accept it quickly — because that moves us forward. Indecision is the worst pick of all because it leads in stagnation and death.

2. Take ownership!

This principle means independent acceptance of the initiative on areas which belong to our competence. Do not wait for others and do not wait for instructions, because things will not change by themselves. At the same time, it means ownership of responsibility at reactive functioning. When something goes wrong, we do not look for excuses and apologies — these are not important. We look for solutions!

3. Accept change!

The only constant in life changes, but still, we avoid it — because every change represents a step into unknown. The company is alive, and its story changes every day. Ability to accept change is a must if you want to accept decisions efficiently.

4. Accept failure!

If you didn’t screw up something big time in your life you did not take enough risk and cannot learn fast. Fear of failure often paralyzes people, but the key to success lies in the ability to stand up every time we fall and move forward. Little kids who learn to walk are falling on the floor all the time. They stagger a hundred times and lend on their behind, but they stand up every time until they learn to walk. Have you ever seen a child who gave up and said: ‘Walking is just not for me.’ No.

5. Be committed, not attached.

Be committed to your vision and goals. But, don’t be attached to how you think is the right way to get there. Be flexible and adaptable all the time. Attachment leads into fear of change, fear of change leads to indecision, indecision to stagnation, and that into dying and death.

6. Forgive mistakes.

Slovenian proverb says whoever works, sins. The person who never made a mistake is the one who does not work at all and therefore cannot learn. Do not judge your coworkers by the mistakes they make — it happens. Pay attention to their responses when they learn that the mistake was made. A good relationship with coworkers can be built through appropriate reactions to their mistakes.

7. Praise achievements.

Don’t be quiet. If somebody did a great job say it out loud and in front of everyone. We all like to hear praise on behalf of a job well done.

8. Have a clear point of view

Good ideas are born from well-thought-out discussions. You should always have at least two to three layers of answers on question WHY ready for every opinion you have. There must be a clear thought process behind every point of view which brought you to that opinion. Be ready to defend your point of view, while still listening to theirs. Maybe they can change your opinion or point of view.

9. Learn to lead and be led.

All of us can be in either of the roles: sometimes a leader, but the other times we are the one being led. These roles are exchanging in different social environments and inside of a company. The leader should learn how to be led as well.

10. Show up! Follow up! Close!

This is one of my favourite business mantras. Make that first, uncomfortable step and go beyond your comfort zone (Show up!). Don’t give up and persist on your way (Follow up!). When you get a chance to achieve what you were striving for, do not get scared. Take what is yours. (Close!)

11. Stay focused!

Learn to say no. People waste a lot of precious time and energy because they cannot say no. Warren Buffett says that the difference between successful and extremely successful people is that extremely successful people say no to almost all things. Learn to say no more often. When we say no, we focus our mind on things that are truly important.

12. Do it now.

This simple principle is almost proverbial, there are many books written about it. Nike, as we know, made an everlasting slogan based on this principle. Do not hesitate and start doing things now. Just do it!