This post is a continuation of my last post where I started sharing the lessons I learnt from the movie Eye in the Sky. In case you missed it, I encouraged you to go and search for it.
In that post, I mentioned how the military officer in control of an operation in East Africa to capture some suicide terrorists had to request a change in the rule of engagement due to situational and environmental changes.
In this post, I will continue with some other business lessons I learnt from the movie.
Here are the lessons.
Just like Col. Katherine Powell was resolute on her target – capture or kill the suicide bombing terrorists despite the pressure to do otherwise, so also as an entrepreneur, you keep focus on your target despite economic or environmental pressure.
Some of those pressures may be sentimental or emotion-based. And their objective may be for immediate gratification. But ensure you don’t succumb to it. Rather, focus on the objective that will be for the overall good of the business, in the long run.
Another lesson I learnt is that there is a need for you to carry your team along even in a difficult situation when you think you know the best solution to the challenge at hand. And you seem not to be making sense to other team members.
It’s your responsibility to make them see the logic behind your preferred decision just like Col. Katherine Powell had to explain to her team, the rationale behind her option of changing the rule of engagement, from “Capture’ to “Kill”.
Remember, the ability to be a good team player is one of the traits of great leaders.
No wonder John Maxwell, the leadership expert says, “If you think you are leading but no one is following, then you are only taking a walk.
Nonetheless, being a good team player doesn’t mean your team has to agree with your decision all the time. But you still have to carry them along.
In addition, in achieving or pursuing your objective or organizational goals, you need to weigh all options. And don’t give an upper hand to emotions. Hence, managing the level of interference from bias is core.
The truth is, there is a thin line between being a cocky leader and being a decisive leader. Thus, the need to weigh all available options objectively is very crucial.
That is where having the trait of open-mindedness in your leadership kit comes to play.
It takes humility to listen to others and understand their point of view while presenting your viewpoint, at the same time.
Finally, as a leader, learn to never give up until you achieve your set goal. That talks about your staying power as well as tenacity.
An entrepreneur or business leader that is not tenacious will settle for anything, in most cases, average or mediocrity.
And as you quite know, you can never build a global brand with a mediocre mindset.
Above all, proper assessment of the required tools and materials for the achievement of your goals and objectives must be available abinitio.
I hope this helps. See you in my next post.
Nkem Adenuga
EMBA 28
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