Interstate Resources, Inc.
Push to get things done.
“I am a practical person and spend more time on results that on analysis,” says Charles Feghali of Interstate Resources. “Therefore my contribution here will be more a practical tip than a big secret.
“Many books have been written on this subject and many recipes and theories have been used by all kinds of people. Leadership is not only for the CEOs. Many people at any level in an organization or at any place in society can and do exhibit leadership traits. The technique or trait I describe here can be applied at any level in an organization, not just by CEOs.
“I would not consider what I offer here as a secret, and I do not know if I am one of the most successful CEOs. But I am glad to share with you here what I consider to be actually part of my everyday MO (modus operandi).
“A technique I found useful in my role as leader is to push to get things done, with the word push being the key. When I ask people to work on something, I always make sure they understand my expectations (the content of their work), and the reason I need it and what I am going to do with it.
“I then make sure we set a completion date. And if I do not receive it on the due date, they certainly hear from me! Some of those completion dates are driven by myself, but most are set by my people.
“I have come to realize and accept that most of my work schedule depends on the work that my people complete for me. That is why it is very important to know the completion date of the work I expect to receive.
“I see my role in this process as an orchestra conductor; all have the knowledge to do what they are supposed to do, and all know when they have to do it. When it all comes together, the results are a coherent, useful, and enjoyable piece of music.
“Some other traits and skills that come to mind when one pursues this technique include ownership, accountability, delivery, a make-it-happen attitude, and teamwork.
“If people ask for things but do not set a completion date, procrastination and delays occur. Then we are out of sync, and things don’t get done.
“The sum total cannot be complete unless all the parts are ready. Otherwise, when the curtain is lifted, we all rush to complete what we have to do. A rushed job does not usually deliver the best results. Why settle for other than the best?
“As I said before, this is my MO and I put this technique in practice every day. It is not a one-off deal. It is ongoing. The examples are in everything I do, such as preparing for a board meeting, preparing for a performance review, assessing an investment.
“I do not believe there is a recipe to become a better leader. Still, one can practice—which is how one can learn—some skills that leaders exhibit.
“There are many types of leadership. To become a better leader, you first have to want to be one and believe you can be one. You have to work on it every day. When you acquire leadership skills, you exhibit them all the time. You have to. You cannot enter this arena as a temp. You join this group to stay there, because you belong there.
“Once you choose the type of leader you want to be, you should learn more about that individual, read his or her biography if available. Then start emulating him or her by applying some techniques that leader has used.”