A ‘Leader’ is what others need to call you

By Geoff Donaghy, CEO, ICC Sydney and Group Director – Convention Centres, ASM Global (APAC): Being called a leader is not something you can necessarily bestow on yourself. The title is best reflected in the observations and comments of your team and your important stakeholders. To be an effective leader requires more than just reading textbooks and following prescribed rules. It involves creating an environment where people are inspired to follow your example and work together with you towards common goals. A successful leader must understand that their success is not measured by their individual achievements, but rather by the accomplishments of their team. As a young manager and later as a CEO, I quickly learned that just about everything I would be assessed on in my career would be delivered by other people, not by myself. Thus, my primary focus needed to be finding the best people and providing them with the best environment to excel. This meant embedding clarity, collaboration, confidence, compassion in the team culture, and most importantly, developing and empowering other leaders within the team. Successful leadership delivers three key outcomes: doing what’s needed, doing what’’ right, and doing it together. Leaders must ensure that they are doing what is best for the company, required by law, and what aligns with their moral compass. Additionally, it is crucial to take the team with you on this journey, and they must buy into the goals and aspirations. Doing things together, rather than for personal gain, benefits everyone involved. It is crucial to motivate your team as a good leader and sharing stories can help everyone to align on and understand common objectives. One of the integral leadership mantras I live by is former US President Harry S Truman’s words, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.” Credit for successes must be shared with the team members who delivered the work. It’s also important to remember Albert Einstein’s words, “If you can’t explain something simply, you probably don’t understand it well enough.” This encourages leaders to communicate effectively with their team with effective listening being the first and primary requirement. Good leadership is achieved through a combination of nature and nurture. While some qualities are intrinsic, many skills can be learned through training, education, reading, and having a mentor. These efforts help leaders to develop and grow in their roles continually. Central to our approach to leadership at ICC Sydney, is to ensure everything we do supports our mission to make a difference. We make a difference to the state through the valuable financial contribution that events provide into the host economy. We strive to make a difference to our community through ICC Sydney’s Legacy Program. Finally, and most importantly, we make a difference to our team members, creating a positive and inclusive environment that supports them to achieve, and ensure they are treated with respect – if you marry all these elements together, then you have a very powerful force for leadership. Ultimately, the strength and test of leadership is best defined by others around you. So, it is about creating an environment where people are inspired to follow and work together towards shared goals. Successful leaders understand that their success is measured by the accomplishments of their team and exclusively focused on the success of their clients – it is their opinion and endorsement that count the most.