The one thing that separates leaders from the rest of the crowd is that they always take the road less travelled. In fact, they choose to carve a path and make it their own. That’s one quality. Then, there’s also the fact that effective leaders believe in themselves, believe in their work, and above all, believe in others.
When describing such leaders, Richard Branson is one of the names that first come to mind. Branson is a person who indeed takes pride in working with a team that shares his values. He is a man who firmly believes in the value of employees and the need for leaders to show an interest in them.
In fact, here’s a quote from Branson that exemplifies this – “Having a personality of caring about people is important. You can’t be a good leader unless you generally like people. That is how you bring out the best in them.”
Branson believes that leaders must show appreciation for their employees’ efforts because recognition and appreciation are what drives them to deliver high-quality work. Eventually, they will begin to motivate themselves and aim for bigger, better things without needing someone to encourage them. In other words, leaders create leaders.
Richard Branson is a leader who creates leaders.
Leaders establish independent organizations
When leaders nurture other leaders, it becomes possible for them to build independent organizations that run effectively without constant supervision. This is what Branson did. When the time came, he removed himself from the picture, allowing his employees to flourish and run the show.
According to Branson, when the “big boss” isn’t there, it forces people to do their part, which eventually allows them to grow and develop as leaders. It helps them build confidence, which is great for business. Branson doesn’t suggest that all leaders do this. However, the key takeaway here is that a good leader shouldn’t micromanage. Instead, they must provide their employees with enough space to grow and learn.
Delegate, delegate, delegate
Another important leadership concept we can learn from Branson is the “art of delegating tasks.” Branson is a staunch critic of the idea that the chief must always be involved in every area, department, or decision.
He is an avid supporter of the idea that effective leaders are those who are willing to let go of the reigns and trust their employees to do the right thing. According to Branson, excessive control is a recipe for disaster. He has always advocated for the delegation of tasks.
In fact, the Virgin Group boss believes that entrepreneurs must delegate tasks right from the start so that employees have an idea of the greater objectives. People starting their businesses must look for employees who are just as good or better than them. They must distance themselves from the business and let their employees run it on a daily basis.
While this happens, leaders must dedicate their time to the more significant or more critical tasks. Whatever it is that leaders do, they must never try to garner absolute control over everything.
Leaders should learn to see employees as partners. Not as prisoners.
Workplace culture has evolved a lot in recent years. Gone are the days of “totalitarian control.” Today, technology allows employees to work remotely and even take off on sabbaticals. The old school 9 to 5 is on its way out.
Of course, traditional bosses and chiefs may find this counterproductive, but Branson completely encourages the new way. He has always believed in the idea that employees are partners and not prisoners.
According to Branson, the idea of forcing people to be on time is outdated because life is too complex these days. Employees don’t have the flexibility to do so. To begin with, they spend so much time on the road that they have to leave their homes hours in advance just to get to work on time.
Once they do get to work, they are forced to waste more of their time in pointless frivolities such as meaningless socialization. Then, there’s the actual work thing, which can take up an entire day and prevent people from creating time for themselves or their families, which are far more important.
However, when workers are offered flexibility, they can create their schedules and more often than not, it saves time. For example, a remote worker saves time by avoiding rush hour traffic and other hindrances. He/she has to wake up, spend a good morning with the family, and start work.
Branson follows this exact approach and claims that it has never backfired. So, the key takeaways here are that leaders must trust their employees and provide them with the right amount of flexibility. Trust is essential, and it makes employees feel respected.
Apart from that, leaders must learn to accept changes that are beneficial for the organization and the employees. Finally, leaders must also understand the benefits of technology and leverage them where and when necessary.
That’s the way it’s done!
So, as you can see, Branson is a brilliant example of what a leader should be. His approach to leadership is truly unique and one that has allowed him to establish a billion-dollar empire with operations spanning the entire globe.
