Leadership, Rainbows and Diversity on a World Tour
Leaders should be like a rainbow. They should have all the colors in their leadership. Thus, everyone who sees him/her should be happy as if they saw a rainbow. They should be passionate about their goals like red, creative like orange, radiant like yellow, compromising like green, reassuring like blue and crazy like purple so that they can touch everyone in their team. When the team of a colorful leader is like a rainbow, diversity will bear fruit, increasing creativity and expanding vision. What makes our world so beautiful is its diversity: Different cultures, original geographies and many resources. Leaders who model the world will find answers to many questions about how to govern.
One of the 19th century's most important architects, Gaudi's colossal Barcelona inspires every visitor. He transferred the curves of nature to his
works in such a way that when we see them, our creativity goes through the roof. We immediately want to break boundaries, do the unthinkable and leave our mark. When we are an inspiring leader like Barcelona, we create a team whose business results are inspiring, and we break the mold.
Göbeklitepe is also a groundbreaking place. It changed the history we thought we knew by bringing the oldest known human artifact back to 10,000 BC. The leader must also be a game changer and surprise. Because the dopamine hormone released by the act of being surprised makes the learned information permanent. Being extraordinary like Göbeklitepe is the key to keeping the interest and focus active.
There are challenges in life. Things may not always go at a high altitude. In those moments of stress, the leader should turn to the solution, asking what this challenge will teach me and how I can overcome challenges like Bosnia-Herzegovina. Imagine a country that has gone through such unimaginable hardships, a generation of which has always experienced war and its effects, but has not given up and transformed like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Bosnia-Herzegovina should be an example for every leader to overcome difficulties when motivation falls. Like the famous Japanese proverb: "Fall down seven times, get up eight".
When emotions become very active, I always think of Rome. Rome is always alive, sincere and living. With its majestic squares, the Colosseum with so many stories to tell and the Trevi Fountain of Love, it seems like every emotion is active in Rome. Emotions are indispensable where there are human beings. The leader's role here is to see the emotions, try to understand them and make everyone feel valued. It is the power of emotions that creates loyalty. Let's be leaders who address emotions like Rome for employee loyalty.
Those who see emotions are leaders who take care of their team. The most important need of teams is leaders who make their strengths visible. Just like Bozcaada. A tiny island has a lot to tell us about focusing on strengths. With its turbines that utilize its strong winds and send energy to the mainland, with its castle built to protect its power from its strategic location, and with its virgin nature that does not give its virgin nature to chain businesses but uses its own resources, it is an island in love with its power, an island that is ok with itself. Let's be leaders who see the strengths of the team, stand behind them and shine their light.
It is the leader who manages and directs the energy. His or her energy is modeled. Beautiful Nice, the capital of the French Riviera, is also a city of energy. It is beautiful in summer and also beautiful in winter. The mood changes when you go there. Some leaders are like that: We say, "I am glad he/she came, my motivation has increased". He or she becomes a sought-after person with the energy he or she radiates. In fact, it is not that person who is wanted, but the energy he or she radiates. Think of it like the Mirroring Technique in communication studies. If there is someone with a high frequency in front of you, you are attuned to it. For this reason, when the energy of the leader is high like Nice, motivated and happy teams are formed. Let's be energetic like Nice.
As the balance of the world is changing rapidly, there will be situations where we need to transform. Singapore is a great city-state for transformation. The Merlion Statue, the symbol of the island, symbolizes transformation. The body of the statue represents Singapore's humble beginnings as a fishing village, while the head of the statue represents power as the city of lions. Unlike other Asian countries, Singapore is a place where everyone from taxi drivers to greengrocers speak English. After declaring independence in 1965, it set long-term goals and focused on needs, not obstacles. With a population of 5.5 million, it is one of the 10 countries with the highest per capita income. Transformation means aligning all steps to targets, making good use of existing resources and closing the gaps with R&D efforts. Singapore is the name of transformation.
Gülsüm BİRİNCİ
Yeşim Group - Sportswear Director
