Rich Hirst’s Post

3 real-life examples of strategic leaders How does strategic leadership show up in everyday life? Here are three well-known leaders who’ve implemented their long-term visions and strategies to lead their teams to success. 1. Jeff Bezos: Amazon’s founder and former CEO is a perfect example of how thinking about the big picture can lead an organization to success. He founded the company in 1994 because he heard the statistic that internet usage was increasing by 2,300% every year. With that potential growth, Bezos knew an e-commerce platform could be hugely successful long term. He wasn’t far off. Under Bezos’ leadership, Amazon’s stock grew by 225,233% and the company is the most notorious leader in the e-commerce industry. In the last two decades, the company has expanded from its origins as an online book store to a massive conglomerate of e-commerce, digital streaming, artificial intelligence, and more. 2. Bill Gates: Microsoft’s founder is another leader who used strategic planning to propel his company forward. Gates says from the early days of Microsoft, he always knew he wanted the company to have more than one product. He was future-focused when building the company and, from day one, led his team in the direction he ultimately saw Microsoft and the technology industry as a whole going. While he’s no longer leading the strategic direction of Microsoft, he also leads with a strategic vision in his philanthropy work. He and the other leaders of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation align all of their work under their main goal of fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. 3. Steve Jobs: Jobs’ vision and strategy execution is credited for establishing Apple as a leader in technology products. His strategy focused on customer service, ease of use, and simplicity of the product—which are all features that set Apple apart from competitors today. In 1996, Jobs returned to Apple after 11 years away to help the company get out of its slump. He refocused the strategy to prioritize the consumer experience and product innovation, and within the next 10 years, Apple introduced the iPod, iTunes mic store, iPad, and iPhone. This quickly turned Apple around from a struggling company to a tech leader. #motivation #keytosuccess

As a leader, how often do you find yourself needing to; ·        Untangle opportunities and challenges. ·        Navigate complex situations. ·        Make tough decisions. ·        Handle yours and others’ emotions skillfully. These themes come up time and time again in the conversations I have with leaders and founders. I know some leaders who try to push through these situations with sheer will (sometimes because they think that’s what a good leader does), but I also know many who take some time to reflect and seek other trusted views and perspectives. The latter is an approach that for me shows a leader has the mindfulness to admit they don’t always know the answer and that making some decisions quickly may not lead to the right outcome for them and those around them.    I spotted this short article and thought this was a great example of an incredibly experienced and successful leader taking some time with a trusted other to help them make the right decision. Taking this thoughtful approach will also rub off on your team and colleagues (role modelling). Conversely making hasty decisions based on emotions or the wrong data will do too. https://lnkd.in/eksYnpjb #realiseyourpotential #leadership #culture #impact

Here is a simple, yet effective 3-step strategy from Jeff Bezos for big leaders, 1) Few big things 2) Tough execution 3) Develop leaders #aws #amazon #leadership #ThinkBig #BiasForAction #HireAndDevelop #DeliverResults https://lnkd.in/grYtjQPE

An effective approach to simplify complex ideas! A senior manager was describing a problem that he faced with a team he managed. Non performance was the issue he cited. One of the stakeholder had complained and he wanted to issue warning letters to the team members, so he sought my advice. I gave him an example of a patient who visits a doctor complaining of flu. The doctor does not immediately rely on the patients conclusion. She takes his history, external weather conditions, communicable diseases in the area, other symptoms, asks some probing questions and then makes her diagnosis. The problem is not always the problem. Without me explaining further, he understood that he needed to dig deeper into the issue. It was not as simple as he thought it was. An excellent approach to simplify complex Ideas is using metaphors. A metaphor compares two different things to show their similarities. Inspiring leaders rely on metaphor to explain complex ideas. One such leader is Jeff Bezos who adapted the concept of a "flywheel" to describe how Amazon's business model drives growth. The "flywheel" is considered Jeff Bezos's most strategic and powerful metaphor. Once a flywheel is set in motion, it continues to spin and gains momentum with minimal effort. For example, if Amazon keeps prices low, it attracts more customers. More customers attract third-party sellers to the platform who offer a broader selection. More selection attracts more customers, and so on. You may have the greatest idea in the world but if you fail to articulate that idea clearly and persuasively, you won't be nearly as successful as you could be. Use metaphors to bring your ideas to life, persuade teams, and simplify complexity. How can you use metaphors to simplify complex ideas? Where have you used metaphors in your business? #metaphors #highimpactleaders #digitalleadership

✨ How often do we truly pause to look inward and ask ourselves the uncomfortable questions? ✨ One of the most rewarding—and humbling—parts of my journey at Google Cloud has been my role as a #G2G (Googler-to-Googler) #coach. I’m constantly reminded that leadership is less about having all the answers and more about having the #humility to learn alongside those we guide - even when it's uncomfortable. Over time, I’ve come to see just how much I grow alongside the coachees I support. Each session serves as a mirror, challenging me to confront my assumptions, deepen my #self-awareness, and expand my perspective on leading with #empathy and #authenticity. Real growth isn’t easy—it stretches us, humbles us, and continually redefines how we show up. This long weekend, I’m diving into Self as Coach, Self as Leader by Pamela McLean, a book that explores self-awareness as the foundation of impactful leadership. I’m eager to see how it sharpens my #reflective practice and my perspective on #growth. Here’s to doing the real work, asking the tough questions, and having the bravery to show up better for ourselves and those we support! #GoogleCloud #G2G #Leadership #UniqueLeadership #Empathy #Managers #SelfAwareness #Leaders #LeadershipDevelopment #Coaching #Reflection #GrowthMindset #SelfReflection #ThoughtLeadership #Motivation #Google #Innovation

Satya Nadella’s impact on Microsoft has been nothing short of remarkable. Here’s why I believe he’s a true visionary: He redefines leadership with an innovative approach, emphasizing positive leadership, empathy, and a growth mindset. #leadership #innovation #microsoft #AI

🌍 𝟓 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 🪙 Looking for inspiration and guidance in the ever-changing business world? Look no further than these 5 influential business leaders who are shaping the future of industries and inspiring others with their vision, innovation, and leadership. 𝟏. 𝐄𝐥𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐤: 🚀 CEO of Tesla and SpaceX Visionary entrepreneur revolutionizing the electric vehicle and space exploration industries Known for his bold risk-taking and relentless drive for innovation 𝟐. 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐲𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚: 💻 CEO of Microsoft Transformed Microsoft into a cloud-first company and a leader in artificial intelligence Emphasizes the importance of culture, empathy, and continuous learning 𝟑. 𝐉𝐞𝐟𝐟 𝐁𝐞𝐳𝐨𝐬: 🛍️ Founder and CEO of Amazon Pioneered e-commerce and revolutionized the retail industry Focused on customer obsession and long-term thinking 𝟒. 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢: 📽️ CEO of Alphabet (Google) Leading the company in AI, cloud computing, and self-driving cars Committed to diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility 𝟓. 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐫: ☕ CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance First black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company Focused on healthcare innovation and improving access to care 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦: Gain insights into the latest industry trends and challenges Learn from their successes and failures Get inspired by their vision and leadership Stay ahead of the curve in a competitive business world 👉 Follow these leaders on social media, read their books and articles, and attend their talks to learn from their experiences and insights. By following their lead, you can become a more effective and inspiring leader yourself. #businessleaders #businessinspiration #leadershipdevelopment #innovationinbusiness #visionaryleadership #entrepreneurship #futureofbusiness Who are your favorite inspirational business leaders? Share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments below!

Wanna explore the book recommended by Steve Jobs during his time at Apple? ▶ I ve Just finished reading The Innovator's Dilemma and want to share it with you all. It’s a must-read for leaders, C-Level execs, and business owners. Ever wonder why big companies often fail with new technologies come along? ▶ The Innovator's Dilemma explains it all. It explains How disruptive innovations can ultimately lead to the downfall of industry leaders while creating opportunities for new entrants. Through many case studies and analysis of different companies such as : #IBM, #Toyota, #Microsoft, #Walmart, #Sony and more. Christensen demonstrates how putting too much on current technologies can lead to trouble. People who invent something are usually the last ones to see past it, and we certainly don’t want to be left behind. Therefore, Jobs' innovative mindset and willingness to take risks are the keys, and it's all covered in 'The Innovator's Dilemma'. Have you read this book? Share your takeaways or questions in the comments – I'd love to hear from you! #BookReview #InnovationInsights #LeadershipDevelopment #DisruptiveTechnology #SAPTransformation #ECCtoCloud

Decision-making for founders and leaders: the one-size-fits-all trap  Jeff Bezos categorizes decisions into two types: 1️⃣ 𝗧𝘄𝗼-𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: - Reversible - Low-risk - Can be made quickly - Should be delegated 2️⃣ 𝗢𝗻𝗲-𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: - Irreversible or costly to reverse - High-impact - Require careful analysis - Should be made by senior leadership As CEO of Amazon, Bezos often found himself being the "Chief Slowdown Officer" for one-way door decisions. Why? Because getting these right is crucial. 𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲-𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀-𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 If you apply the same heavy process to all decisions, you end up slowing everything down. Instead, Bezos advocates: 1. Empower individuals to make two-way door decisions quickly. 2. Elevate one-way door decisions to senior leadership for thorough analysis. The key? Knowing the difference. 👉🏼 Next time you're faced with a decision, ask yourself: "Is this a one-way or two-way door?" Your answer could be the difference between paralysis and progress.

Leader: Satya Nadella Company: Microsoft Leadership Style: Transformative Satya Nadella embodies a transformative leadership style. He took over as CEO of Microsoft in 2014. Nadella shifted the company's focus towards cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Under his leadership, Microsoft's market value has soared. He encourages a growth mindset among employees. Nadella emphasizes the importance of empathy and diversity. His leadership style fosters innovation and collaboration. Microsoft has become more agile and adaptable. Nadella's approach has led to increased profitability and market relevance. Adaptive leadership is crucial in today's fast-changing business environment. It enables organizations to thrive amidst uncertainty and disruption. Nadella's transformative leadership at Microsoft exemplifies the power of adaptive leadership in achieving organizational success. #100xLearners #Day15of30DaysChallenge #LeadershipStyles