The 4 E's of Leadership
A few years ago before starting my first business, I was lucky to get to know a man that was formerly the Vice President of the North American continent for a very large corporation. He gave me a few pieces of advice that I've reverted back to over the last few years. And I am very grateful to have gotten to work for him & get to know him.
*Side-note: I mowed his grass for $12/hour using his equipment... I didn't take the job so much for the money - I took the job for the opportunity to get to know this guy and learn.
And so after I would get done working, once a week or so, we would sit outside and talk for a couple hours. I tried my best to soak it in & learn and I am very grateful for the conversations we had.
My point: Take opportunities to network and learn from people smarter than you.)
One of the things he told me was what he looks for when he meets someone to determine if they are a leader: The 4 E’s. He also looks for the 4 E’s when hiring to determine how good of an employee they will be. They are as follows:
[1] Energy
Does the individual have a high-energy, exciting personality? If so, chances are they have the foundation quality of a good salesman. And being able to sell is very important. Hell, you’re constantly selling yourself when you meet people to build trust.
[2] Energizing
Does the individual cause a spark in other people when they interact? Energizers can fire people up and get them motivated. They interact with people especially well & people enjoy being in their presence. Do they put off an aura?
[3] Edge
Does the person have a specific edge to them? Something that sets them apart from others? Leaders are different - not followers. They don’t care if they stand out & take pride in the fact that they don't.
[4] Execution
Does the person know how to act on their strengths? They must have the work ethic, the resilience to not quit when the going gets tough, and the balls to make things happen. They can have the first 3 E’s but without the execution, they will not meet their potential.
This is the most important E, the bow that ties them altogether.
Whether you are looking for a good candidate to hire, a mentor to learn from, or working on yourself: Keep the 4 E's in mind & remember that execution is the most important of all.
Thank you for reading!
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