Jan-Dirk Auris
Regional President, Henkel Asia Pacific
Leadership is about being willing to sacrifice the short term for the long term. This requires a number of sacrifices be made each and every day.
At Henkel, our priority this year has been focused on three core principles: focus on our customers; strengthen our global team; and achieve our full business potential. To do this requires not just my leadership, but leadership across our business. My job is to set the direction and to empower leaders to lead.
Looking at the last 12 months, I believe, many leaders faced short term challenges, made short term sacrifices with the global economic situation. These are times that test leadership. It pushes leaders to do more with less. But it is also a time of opportunity, where leadership is most needed and where new leaders emerge and shine. I am proud to say at Henkel, I have been truly inspired and rewarded by watching new leaders emerge across our business. This will not be only good for our business, but it makes all the little sacrifices made truly worth it. This inspires me; it empowers me; and pushes me to continue to lead.
Gillian Sim
Managing Director, UPS Singapore
Leaders who live and breathe their business often have to sacrifice their personal time in order to grow the business and ensure its profitability. They have to ensure they spend time getting to know their staff, coaching them and grooming the management to bring the company forward.
Often, the biggest sacrifice business leaders have to make is in their work-life balance. Because businesses are now more globalised and interconnected with partners and clients all over the world, leaders must shoulder the responsibility of acting 24 hours a day, and reacting immediately when there are crises or emergencies.
However, I also feel that it is important to ensure that one takes quality time off from work, in order to recharge the senses and have more all-rounded learning. For instance, I play a lot of golf during the weekends.
UPS has a policy of rotating management staff to meet our company’s needs, as well as to broaden their experience. As a result, I have spent my last eight years away from my family. But at the same time, I have also enriched myself culturally and this has in turn enhanced career opportunities for me.
Carole Field
Director, Praesta
A leadership role is a reward in itself. It doesn’t cost you anything, it’s an organic growth process and it builds rather than depletes your career. So, in the first place, I wouldn’t say that sacrifices are made.
However, leaders have to come to difficult decisions sometimes. The challenge of leadership lies in choosing between what you’d like to do, and what’s right for the organisation. In the current climate, for example, business sustainability poses many conflicts as leaders strive to ensure ongoing survival and profitability. It’s not an ideal choice to have to retrench people, but unfortunately, it’s necessary if it ensures the business will be around for years to come. In other words, you do what’s easy or you do what’s right.
However, it’s also imperative that leaders do not sacrifice employees’ dignity and respect in the process of making these tough choices. Leaders should never behave in ways which compromise the health and wellbeing of employees. I’ve seen this neglest in construction companies, and it should never be acceptable behavior.