In business terms, a profit is the margin that you have when you take the difference between the amount of money you were paid and what it cost you to deliver goods or services. It is not all business endeavours that are profitable, and the margin can be different depending on the type of endeavour and how it is managed. In fact, the type of investment, market conditions, business climate, business strategy, management skills, etc. determine profitability. Most profitable businesses are those that are managed efficiently, where resources are optimized for gain.

It seems that most endeavours in life are just like business transactions. For example, you can invest time and effort in studying for an exam so you can gain academic success. You can also invest time and emotional connection in a relationship so you can gain companionship. Whatsoever you invest and how you manage the investment would determine how much gain would be available thereafter, and the gain could be for you or shared with others. In the same vein, leadership calls for an investment; an investment of one’s personal resources including time, emotions, skills, talents, effort, and good will in other people. The most profitable leaders invest in others. The hallmark of leadership is the manifold effect realized when the world gains other leaders because of our investment.
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As individual leaders in our areas of niche, let us make the new year a profitable year by becoming intentional in our relationships with those we work with. Every single one of us can be a source of inspiration to those around us. Our conduct, dedication, contribution, and the support we provide to others become part of our collective effort to build a better society. The world becomes a better place when individuals become better people. That would happen through your stewardship and my stewardship, as we become more profitable in our leadership in the new year.

You are approaching the end of the year. You have worked hard. You have put in your effort. It may not matter whether you have won or not, but you finished. Even if you did not conquer territories, you saw the end of the year’s campaign. Maybe you are just like me, having had a lot of goals written so you can reach them in the year. You achieved many but missed some. Or maybe the year didn’t even start on a great note, but you managed to navigate through the complexities of the year. You are looking at the end of the year, taking stock, wondering if the year was successful or not. I have good news. The real feeling you would experience at the end of the year depends on how you think it went. It is a perspective.

Meanwhile, we must all realize that we have another year to look forward to. Instead of worrying about the year that is passing, we can pull back from all the busyness and find time to rest. This is the season of rest, a time when we withdraw from the hassles so we can draw new strengths for the coming year. Retreating helps us to relaunch so we can gain new momentum from the recoil effect. You have emptied your fuel tank during the year. It is time to refill, reload and replenish. As we approach the December holiday, you and I need to find time to recuperate so that we are fit to achieve bigger things in the new year. It is truly a festive season but also a season to recharge. Would you make it a restful season?
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I have decided not to start the new year under stress. What about you? I am spending time resting, reflecting, and setting specific goals for the new year. I want to be smarter next year than I have been this year. I want to rebound with energy, full of hope, grace, and goodwill to everyone I encounter. I hope you are willing to do the same. Let us use this season to retreat, replenish and rebound.

Sometimes when people say they are results-oriented, they may mean one of many things. Perhaps they are such that their work or leadership can lead to the completion of projects, achievement of milestones, realization of set goals or reaching a destination. However, in some instances, it may mean getting outcomes at whatever cost. Some people are so focused on the milestones and results from their work, such that it doesn’t really matter what process leads to the end. If results are achieved, then everything is fine. For some, it may mean circumventing principles and policies to achieve results, while for others, it may mean driving people like machines to reach their goals. Yet for others, it may mean paying whatever cost, including neglecting their loved ones and paying little attention to their own health, in the process of achieving results.

I like to use a zoom lens on the aspect of using people to achieve results, which is common where people are seen just as numbers. At least, the organization paid for their time, so why not use them vigorously to get where we are going? The truth is that people are more important than the work. If the purpose of leading is to drive people like farmers would use oxen to drive a plough, then we have missed the whole point. Instead, we build people who, in-turn, build the society. It has always been my principle to get people to feel comfortable around me when we work together. I want them to know that the work they do is very important, but that they themselves are more important than the work. Leading is not about bossing people around but about influencing people for positive impacts.
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When we build a collegial environment, the work becomes easy. If we focus on building and empowering people, while providing the necessary direction, getting excellent results becomes a by-product. One of the reasons for leading is to show the way; the way that others would go. In that case, we do not drag people along the way. Instead, we give them the map, prepare them for the journey and let them go all the way. How do you lead?

Do others in your field of endeavour look up to you for leadership, tutelage, direction, inspiration, or guidance? Are you so knowledgeable and skilled, such that your expertise and contributions command respect? If your answer is “yes”, you are a thought leader. People see you as the one to go to and as a source of authentic information or knowledge. Thought leaders have so much influence. If there is a thought leader in your field or work, you can learn a lot from them and glean from their wealth of experience. However, thought leadership may not be effective if the so-called leader does not add thoughtfulness to their knowledge. Have you seen a rocket scientist that, due to character flaws, cannot build the relationships needed to achieve much?

Those who are thoughtful engage their minds in paying attention to the things that really matter. For example, they think about the needs of others, their relationship with others and the implication of their actions. They know that being smart is not enough but being wise is even better. You and I need to add thoughtfulness to our thought leadership. An effective leader is a person of influence and character. Leaders think deeply, take time to reflect, are empathetic and do not make decisions on impulse. Being thoughtful means careful and considerate thinking. It means thinking to consider factors surrounding an issue before acting on the issue. Thoughtful people are apt.
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Strong, brave, and supportive people normally gravitate toward thoughtful leaders. In that sense, a thoughtful leader will attract to themselves those who will help them succeed. It is not surprising that thoughtful people are successful people. However, someone who is very bright and smart but finds it difficult to attract good people to work with or who repel kind people should check their thoughtfulness level. Don’t just be a thought leader. Be a thoughtful leader.