My Role Model Leader

                                        

                                                                   Defining Leadership : Sir Richard Branson

The autobiography of Sir Richard Branson " Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons In Life" remains till date one of the most inspiring books I have ever read.Sir Richard Branson is  the  most intriguing, successful and enduring business leaders the world has ever seen. As the founder of the Virgin Group, he has established a very interesting approach to leadership and where he chooses to put his resources to work. He is an extremist in serial entrepreneurship and a source of constant inspiration to millions. Branson is often criticized for his management style – or lack thereof. He holds no regular board meetings, has no business headquarters. But, with his brand name licensed to over 250 companies, Branson has had to develop the necessary leadership skills to ensure his survival.

 His overall leadership principle rests on the need to treat other people with respect but the nuts and bolts of it are much harder to pin down. Branson stresses the importance of time management skills, saying he spends roughly one third of his time on trouble shooting, one third on new projects – both business related and charitable – and one third on promoting and marketing his businesses. In between, he also makes time for his family and vacations

 Sir Richard’s leadership style and characteristics are based on some very simple and down-to-earth rules:

•  Smile, everything gets much easier if you show a friendly face
•   Have fun at work
•   Believe in your ideas, employees and colleagues

      "I’ve had to create companies that I believe in 100%. These are companies I feel will make a genuine difference,” says Branson. “Then I have to be willing to find the time myself to talk about them, promote them and market them. I don’t want to spend my life doing something that I’m not proud of.”

      Branson hires bright people, gives them a stake in his ventures so that they are motivated to be even more successful and then delegates. While his staff often takes care of the daily operations of a company, Branson focuses his time more on the end user experience, doing publicity and promoting his products. 

Sir Richard is very thorough in hiring the right people. He is known for bringing in good managers and getting them to stay. If they don’t perform at an existing assignment he brings them into another venture where the person is more likely to perform according to his capabilities. ”Look for the best and you’ll get the best”, is his words. Firing people is seldom an option to Sir Richard.

Richard Branson : Talking Management

In the end, you are left with the image of a man who enjoys what he does, ensures he balances work and personal life, is a fair competitor who doesn't tolerate dirty tricks from others, and someone who leads from the front a group of folks who are likely to follow him anywhere – because he truly cares about them and the firms he owns.