Likeable Business

11 simple concepts to become a better leader

Whatever business you're in, and whatever your role, Kerpen says this book is relevant for you. Because being likeable makes people more successful - in their job, relationships and indeed in life.

This book is based on research conversations undertaken with managers and leaders from organisations of all sizes and sectors, and underlines the importance of the principles that lead to success. It also documents examples where unlikeable practices have led to disaster.

11 practical ways to become a better manager/leader

All of the principles Kerpen identifies are simple. Together they make for more likeable managers and leaders, and better more customer-centric organisations.

1. Listening - the foundation of any relationship. Listen to what customers and prospects want and need, the challenges they face. Listen to colleagues and team members, staying open to new ideas.
2. Storytelling - captivates people and drives them to take action. Storytelling is what sells your ideas and engages others.
3. Authenticity - being who you say you are and demonstrating integrity, humility and honesty builds trust and creates a positive, attractive energy.
4. Transparency - in these times of social media, there is nowhere to hide; openness and honesty allow you to sleep better and inspire trust in others.
5. Team playing - letting others shine, thinking together to release innovation, enabling others' strengths all make you a more likeable manager and promotes success.
6. Responsiveness - shows that you are listening, that you care and that you are acknowledging others in your communication.
7. Passion - people who love what they do have a great advantage - as Steve Jobs said, 'the only way to do great work is to love what you do'.
8. Surprise and Delight - successful managers and leaders under-promise and over-deliver, remembering that people like surprises!
9. Simplicity - the world is more complex than ever, but people respond best to simplicity, so distilling key messages to their simplest components enables accessibility and engagement.
10. Gratitude - being appreciative and remembering to say thank you to those who contribute to opportunities and success is a hugely important aspect of being a likeable leader - and tends to bring forth even better efforts and results.

The Golden Rule

Above all, remember to treat others as you would wish to be treated.

"I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I've become.  If I had, I'd have done it a lot earlier."