There are quite a few examples of how leaders have been successful in their chosen fields. However, some leaderships have undoubtedly been more spectacularly successful than others. Often, this is down to how they lead and how they treat the people who work for them.
Whether setting up mentoring schemes – proven to work well in a wide variety of industries – as we know only too well here at EL Mentoring, or driving people to effect change, the right leaderships can change fortunes and change the world.
Successful leaders exhibit a combination of strategies and qualities. Here are a few examples of outstanding leadership styles and individuals who are widely recognised as being the best.
Elon Musk
The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk is often considered to be eccentric and combative. He is also one of the world’s most devisive leaders. However, his innovative style of leadership shows a man unafraid to take risks and push boundaries in the pursuit of his own personal vision for the future. He has the ability to inspire and lead in a highly competitive market. This way, he can ensure his status as an industry leader in the field of electric vehicles and increasingly artificial intelligence.
Steve Jobs
The co-founder of Apple Inc was a charismatic leader. He was known for a ferocious work ethic and his ability to inspire and motivate his team to achieve groundbreaking, indeed world-leading innovations in the technology industry. His charisma, single-mindedness and attention to detail became the rock on which the success of his company grew.
Angela Merkel
Not a business leader but a highly effective one nevertheless. The former German Chancellor was known for her adaptive leadership style. It helped her successfully navigate the challenges posed by the European economic and refugee crises. She is widely respected among the German people and world leaders. Her ability to adapt to changing circumstances contributed to a long and successful political career.
Sheryl Sandberg
She was the Chief Operating Officer at Facebook from 2008 to 2022. She then, after a stint at Google, moved on to found her own enterprise Leanin.org. This was based on her recipe for success at work and in life. Her leaderships encompassed high expectations and encouragement of the people around her to reach goals. She is known for praising those who do good work. Plus, she takes steps to work out an individual’s talents, pushing them to improve.
Jeff Bezos
The founder of Amazon, which started out as an online bookstore. Bezos has turned his company into the world’s biggest online seller. He is known as a transformational, decisive but often autocratic leader. This is due to his high standards and tendency towards micromanaging. Through his analytical thinking and calculated risk-taking style he has made his company successful. He has done so by splitting his workforce into small teams. They are then trusted to complete required tasks. He is also focussed on improving communication to create a healthy but driven competitive environment among employees.
Companies and businesses can come and go, however it is clear that the key to lasting success is great leadership. This means that can adapt and innovate when required to best suit the needs of their teams and achieve their goals.
