Being a leader certainly implies having a vision but also knowing how to give direction to your teams.
This is what makes it possible to involve individuals and give meaning to what they do, day after day.

About 300,000 years ago, homo sapiens was born, distinguished by its ability to collaborate, learn, exchange and communicate. Capacities that then allow populations to create communities, transmit information, create myths, religions, nations, and then societies. And all this thanks to meaning and sharing.
It is therefore the search for deep meaning that guided Jean-Philippe COURTOIS.
Through his professional career as a manager and then leader within Microsoft, Jean-Philippe COURTOIS reveals his own definition of leadership.

A clear vision of the mission to be carried out

A clear vision of the company’s mission is necessary to give meaning and a path to follow to everyone’s actions.

With great power comes great responsibility

A responsible leader is a leader who does not define the success of his teams solely by financial performance, the satisfaction of his customers and employees, but who also knows how to forge the daily life and soul of the company with regard to its societal contribution in each of the countries where it operates.
2014 marks the arrival of Satya Nadella at the head of Microsoft. New CEO, new mission.

What would be missing on earth if your company were to disappear?

Like Satya Nadella, a new mission is not a communication exercise, nor a self-prophecy, but fundamentally must become the raison d’être of the company. To define it, the question to ask yourself is: “What would be missing on earth if your company were to disappear?”
The mission itself will not be enough to transform the company. Three other fundamental pillars will have to be built: Culture, the company’s unique concept (the value proposition) conveyed by its products or services, and of course the Distinctive Skills (people, innovation, processes) that will allow it to execute its strategy successfully.

Changing the overall mindset

The process of transformation begins with a cultural renaissance. It is therefore a question of changing the general state of mind towards a “growth mindset”. No more “I know everything”. Long live the “I’m ready to learn anything” attitude. And this, regardless of the hierarchical rank. We are thus willing to question our habits and achievements to discover, innovate and demonstrate our appetite for learning at any time.

Moving away from the analytical approach to empathy

Tolstoy was right: “Everyone dreams of changing humanity, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
Empathy is a force for building strong personal relationships. It also allows us to communicate effectively with our customers and our employees.

To read the full article: https://www.hbrfrance.fr/chroniques-experts/2017/11/17971-etre-leader-quotidien-donner-sens/