Leadership isn't a one-stop destination; it's an ever-evolving ride that demands adaptability, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of improvement. It's about navigating the twists and turns of growth, reinventing oneself multiple times, and learning at breakneck speed.
In this article, Timo Lappi, a seasoned entrepreneur turned from Founder to CEO and finally, Chairman of the Board, shares his experiences and profound insights while traversing the varied landscape of leadership roles. Learn his story – and get a couple of tips on how to be a better leader.
Shifting Perspectives on Leadership
Timo's transformative journey unfolds from his roots as a founder and production manager to his roles as CEO and eventually Chairman of the board.
Initially, the allure of a leadership role was about the illusion of status and power it carried. Reflecting on those early days, Timo candidly admits, "I thought the CEO title came with status, power, and such."
However, he now sees leadership through a mature lens, defining it as a service profession. Nowadays, for him, the emphasis is on making others shine, listening keenly, and excelling in communication.
Leadership – A Tricky Metric
Transitioning from an expert to a leader has the challenge of moving from tangible, measurable success indicators to the abstract world of leadership. Timo explains, "It's very abstract work, and it's very difficult to measure whether it was a good day or not."
Unlike an expert who can easily measure success, a leader might struggle to grasp a sense of achievement and accomplishment.
As the priorities shift from tangible objectives to more abstract, people-centric ones, a leader must pay more and more attention to how they manage their time. Early in a company's life, the entrepreneur is a multitasking wizard, juggling many responsibilities, from changing light bulbs to crafting budgets.
With growth, leaders must transition from being hands-on entrepreneurs to effective delegators. Timo acknowledges, "the freed-up time should be used for interacting with people," recognizing the significance of personal connections in leadership. Yet, he also admits that it can be challenging to live like he preaches:
"I still have an expert background. At the end of the day, I think about what I've accomplished today and the concrete things."
Navigating the Void of Good News
When talking about learnings on his growth journey as a leader, Timo mentions that CEOs often find themselves inhabiting a void of positive feedback and news.
When things are going well, there's often no need to report good news because it signifies that operations are simply running as intended. Additionally, minor setbacks and challenges are shielded from the CEO, as they are deemed too insignificant to warrant reporting.
Consequently, CEOs can be unwittingly isolated from the positive aspects of their leadership, existing in a vacuum where only significant problems come to their attention. This constant focus on addressing major issues distorts their worldview and cultivates a potentially negative self-image.
"I often remind myself: Timo, your task is to solve problems. That's why those problems come to your desk. For every problem, there are ten or a hundred positive things, but you just haven't heard about them."
From CEO to Chairman: Coaching and Caring
Transitioning from CEO to Chairman marks a pivotal shift, emphasizing coaching and supportive care in leadership. Timo draws a vivid analogy, comparing the CEO to an athlete on the field and casting the Chairman as a coach.
The Chairman's primary responsibility is to support the CEO, ensuring they shine in their role. Timo adds nuance to this perspective, saying,
"CEOs are typically those types of individuals for whom high performance is in some way hard-coded directly onto their hard drive. Perhaps 'high care' is needed more from the Chairman."
In essence, he underscores the importance of emotional support alongside ambitious objectives in the Chairman position.
Courageous Leadership: Tips from Timo
Timo's journey involves leaving secure roles thrice, each time representing a leap into the unknown.
His advice to fellow entrepreneurs and leaders is to embrace the fear.
He believes the best decisions often emerge when there's a bit of fear. Courageously taking the leap, even when it feels intimidating, has been the catalyst for positive change in Timo's career.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, Timo's leadership journey showcases the changing nature – and demands – of leadership roles. His insights highlight the shift in perspective, emphasizing that true leadership means serving, focusing on communication and helping others shine rather than just holding authority.
The challenges of measuring success in leadership's abstract world stress the need to manage time and redefine goals.
The void of positive feedback for CEOs underscores the importance of recognizing the numerous positive aspects and stresses the importance of the Chairman's supportive leadership.
Timo's leadership, marked by confronting fears and making bold decisions, reminds us to be courageous and take risks on our own growth journey.
