7 qualities that set engaging ceos apart
Being an engaging CEO is key to motivating your teams to hone their skills and deliver the best results possible. But what does it take and how can you become one? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with these top tips for leaders!
At Yapster, we’re the microphone and you’re the band – we provide our users with the best communication tools on the market so they can let their talent shine. Throughout the years, we’ve built partnerships with inspiring frontline businesses across the UK and learned a thing or two from working with them.
Graham Blackwell is the CEO of Tenpin, a leading operator of entertainment centres boasting 47 locations across the UK. We’ve partnered with CPL Learning to provide Tenpin with a unique integrated ‘social learning’ solution. A true Social Leader, Graham regularly posts updates on his Yapster newsfeed and generates incredible engagement on a weekly basis. His posts are often viewed by more than 80% of his people (over 1,000 employees), proving that he is a truly engaging CEO. But how does he do it and what can you learn from his communication strategy?
Here are our top tips for leaders seeking to generate more engagement for their frontline business and become engaging CEOs!
Here are our 7 top leadership tips for aspiring engaging CEOs
1: Get to know yourself
Engaging leaders know who they are and guide their teams in ways that are authentic to them. Knowing yourself will help you figure out your unique leadership style, which will in turn allow you to focus on what you are great at and delegate tasks that would be better performed by another team member.
Graham Blackwell primarily communicates with his teams only when he needs to get a point across or obtain information from someone. But his content is always thoughtful and real. Don’t pretend to be an extrovert if you aren’t! If you’d like to find out more about your unique leadership style, click here!
2: Define your strategy
A solid strategy should be the backbone of your organisation. If you don’t have a clear idea of where you’re going, how can you expect good people to follow you there? By setting clear objectives for each quarter, year, and five-year period, you can orchestrate your team to gradually work towards success, together.
Define your company values, culture, and objectives and communicate them clearly to your teammates. At Yapster, we use the EOS system to make our vision a reality. By being transparent and holding ourselves and each other accountable for the success of Yapster, we have built an environment in which employees know what they’re working towards and why – and it makes all the difference!
3: Execute your plan
Hiring is undoubtedly one of the most important decisions any business ever has to make. By only hiring people who adhere to your values and vision, you can ensure that operations run smoothly– and that you’re all truly doing your best to push the business forward.
Once you’re clear on where you’re going, you have to walk the walk… and bring people with you. When workers need training, it is your responsibility to coach them up so they can meet your standards. During the hiring process, Graham is very clear on what is expected of potential recruits – they’re all about customer service. Making the right hiring decisions will save you both time and costs, as you minimise the risk of letting employees go because they don’t fit in. Engaging CEOs should always ensure they hire people who are genuinely inspired by their vision!
4: Be present
Being present is all about showing your people that you recognise the things that matter. Interestingly, this means you shouldn’t engage with any and every piece of content ever published on your comms platform. You’ve got to be selective. Presence starts with the conscious choice to encourage and engage with content that ties into your strategy.
Engaging with the right content will inform your employees about the relevance of their posts and will show them that you care about their work. By being open to receiving messages and always replying to them, Tenpin’s leadership shows all employees that the values that make up their company aren’t simply words – they’re the concrete foundations of the business. This makes them truly engaging leaders.
5: Stay consistent
You will not influence your team if you do not communicate consistently. By taking the time daily or weekly to share operational updates across the organisation, you’re leading by example. After all, the CEO truly sets the standard for other members of the team!
Graham generally makes an announcement on Yapster whenever he does a trading update to the stock market. Moreover, all executive members at Tenpin are present on the platform and are open to receiving messages and responding to them promptly. Saying that you care shouldn’t be just another fancy recruitment marketing tactic promoted by your HR Team – it should be how you act daily to get the most from people.
6: Be reliable
Never make promises you can’t keep. Accountability goes both ways, and for employees to trust you, you’ve got to show them that your words are meaningful. By only making relevant announcements and always delivering on them, you’ll strengthen your relationships with your teammates and will earn their respect.
This again is all about being selective. Engaging leaders don’t produce content for the sake of gaining visibility – they do so with a clear purpose. Being reliable will inspire your teams to embody the same quality.
7: Be curious
At Yapster, one of our core values is the willingness to learn. Organisations operate in an ever-evolving world. As a result, without the desire to adapt and grow, success becomes unattainable. This is why we believe in Social Leadership so strongly. We know that mastering digital tools is key to leading your pack in the digital age.
By being open to embracing new technologies and tools, you’re ensuring that your business remains competitive – but you’re also inspiring employees to chip in and share their ideas with the rest of the team. Becoming a better leader is about working towards your vision… and learning along the way!
Wanna learn more about Social Leadership and our leadership tips? Here’s our exclusive Social Leader’s reading list! Let’s get Yapping!