„Wear Bigger Shoes” – How to be missed as a leader.

„What does it take to be a successful leader?„- that question goes through the minds of thousands of CEOs, COOs and other top managers-alike on a daily basis.
Leadership training is a huge chunk of the business industry itself. There are hundreds of books, programs, seminars and other forms of media published by so-called „leadership gurus„, who make a living out of this subject.

image source: http://www.audiomicro.com

See some examples below:
1. „The Little Book of Leadership”
2. „Leadership Training”
3. „Winning with Leadership”

Yet, the answer to the above question is pretty down to earth. To fully grasp the concept, we have to modify the question first: „What would happen if you stepped down from the role of a leader?”

So, as in the title, the right strategy and answer to the second question is „Leave Big shoes to fill”.
What does that mean? Think about Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Lech Wałęsa, or in a non-business-related area Pope John Paul II.
Was it easy to „get into their shoes” and find an equally remarkable leaders? Of course, some say it will never be possible.
That is what you should aim for.

The topic comes around, with the latest news from the leading American technology Apple, as their current CEO Steve Jobs „takes a leave of absence„. All eyes (especially shareholders) are on the future of the technology leader.
Who will take over the helm after such a charistmatic visionary, who managed to get himself fired from his own company to later come back and redefine the music, computing, telephone and digital electronics industry?

Those who met Jobs, defined him as a „control-freak” and perfectionist.
Whether someone stood behind his vision and leadership style, there is no doubt he has charisma and put his heart into building up Apple to the humongous size and an industry leader that redefines how consumers interact with new media and technologies.

It is „no easy feat” to be able to say that after you retire.
Thus, those CEO shoes are BIIIG to fill, right?

If you develop a vision, follow it relentlessly, care and respect your employees, ensure efficient business process management, control sales, marketing, customer relations and finance, you might just be the next „Steve Jobs” in your field.

So go out there and make sure you will be missed.
That is what it takes to be a real Leader.

If you want to learn more about latest Apple’s news on Jobs, listen to the podcast from the latest Bloomberg Businessweek Cover Story.

Chris Dargiewicz

Useful vocabulary:

1. To go through the mind – przejść przez myśl/myśleć o
2. CEO (Chief Executive Officer) – Dyrektor Zarządzający
3. COO (Chief Operating Officer) – V-Ce Dyrektor/Dyrektor Operacyjny
4. On a daily basis – na porządku dziennym/codziennie
5. Chunk – kawał; pajda
6. So-called – tak zwany; rzekomy
7. Make a living out of – utrzymywać się finansowo poprzez…/życ z…
8. Down to earth – prosty; przyziemny
9. Grasp (an idea/concept) – chwytać;złapać; zrozumieć pomysł/ideę
10. Modify – zmienić; przekształcić; zmodyfikować
11. To step down – zrezygnować; odejść
12. Aim for – dążyć do czegoś
13. To take a leave of absence – wziąść urlop
14. Shareholders – akcjonariusze
15. To take over the helm – przejąć/objąć ster
16. Redefine – przeobrazić; przekształcić
17. Control freak – kontrolująca osoba (w nadmiarze)
18. Pefectionist – perfekcojnista;
19. Humongous – ogromny
20. No easy feat – trudne zadanie (wcale nie tak proste)
21. Thus – stąd; więc
22. Go out there – przystąp do działania