Mind your Es and P

This post came out from The Straits Times (3 October 2015)
Title - Mind your Es and P

Some pointers that I've got are:
1. The first E: Positive Energy
2. The second E: The ability to Energise others
3. The third E: Edge, the courage to make tough decisions
4. The fourth E: Execution, the ability to get the job done
5. The final P: Passion

On Positive Energy

• The ability to thrive on action and relish change. People with positive energy are generally extroverted and optimistic. They make conversation and friends easily. 
• Create energy you need to get rid of the things that stifle energy, including meetings, ill-conceived projects, poor-performing products and bureaucracy.
• Leaders with energy never rest on their laurels. Feeling that nothing is ever good enough, they aim to improve everything.

On The ability to Energise others

• People who energise can inspire their team to take on the impossible - and enjoy the challenge. Such leaders are enthusiastic. They bring the best people in and bring the best out in people. They inject people with confidence and give credit when things go right.
• They do not micro-manage, give their employees some clear goals and allow them to determine the level of support they need to achieve these goals. 

On Edge, the courage to make tough decisions

• Leaders with edge are competitive and know the value of speed. They know when to say yes and no.
• Leaders with edge: make timely decisions (even tough ones), tackle problems head on, deal well with change, identify new ideas, markets and opportunities, remove non performers, take calculated risks, encourage others to take risks and reward them for trying, look people in the eyes and tell them the truth, take ownership and responsibility for things that go wrong.

On Execution, the ability to get the job done

• They deliver, not just meeting their targets but constantly exceeding them. They put decisions into action and push them forward to completion, even through resistance, chaos or unexpected obstacles. 
• Knowing the answers to these questions is a prerequisite to execution - What does my competitive environment looks like? In the last three years, what have my competitors done? What have I done during the same period? How might my competitors attack my business in the future? What are my plans to beat them? 

On Passion

• Passion is a heartfelt, deep and authentic excitement about work. Such leaders care about their colleagues winning, love to learn and grow, and love seeing people around them do the same. They also tend to be passionate about everything in life. 

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big