Leadership lessons from Karren Brady
I went to a conference today and the keynote speaker was Karren Brady.
If you don’t know who she is and the amazing things she has achieved, please do a quick google. She has defied the odds and excelled in a male-dominated field and she’s giving back by helping others have the opportunity to do the same.
Here are a few notes I made from her talk today
(too good not to share).
On people that try to discourage you…
There are 3 types of people in the world. People that:
- Make things happen
- Watch as it happens
- Wonder what happened
Make sure you are #1.
On running an organisation…
Make sure you develop a good culture. As a leader you need to know what you want your company to stand for. You must also set the standard of how you treat people. Make sure everyone in your team does everything within their skillset to make the company successful.
On building a brand…
Your brand has to stand for something. Have 3 words you use to describe yourself. Make sure you use embody those 3 words in everything you do. She had those 3 words when she first started managing Birmingham City and she still has those 3 words she uses 24 years later.
She mentioned how she makes sure everything she does is with integrity(one of her 3 words)- which was a nice breath of fresh air considering the nature of the Football industry.
On the struggles of being a successful woman…
She shared a story about entering a building for a boardroom meeting and being told that “Wives of directors should go to the Ladies room” and the shock when she said “I am the director”.
On her 6 keys to navigating your career successfully…
1.Quality leadership
Leadership is not the same as management. Managers coordinate with people to get the job done. Leaders sell their vision and convince others to passionately work on the vision as if it was their own.
2.Ambition
The toughest thing about being a success is continuing to be a success. Everything great starts with ambition but continues with hard work.
3.Determination
Always be able to pick yourself up when you’ve been knocked down.
4.Attitude
If you don’t like something change it. If it’s not possible to change it- change your attitude towards it.
5.Direction
All great opportunities come disguised as hard work. Pick the right ones and do them well.
6.Positivity
True success is hanging on when everyone has let go.
