Growth guru | Top management tips
Building a business is all about leadership: G.A.P Adventures CEO Bruce Poon Tip believes his business can grow only as fast as he can evolve to be a better leader. “It is a lifelong evolution in which you have to understand your limitations,” he says. “The buck stops and starts on my ability to get better.”
Stay agile: All organizations tend to age and collect dust. Poon Tip says entrepreneurs must push constantly to boost their organization’s agility and hone its competitive edge, “so you can move quickly when opportunity comes knocking.”
Wow customers through your business, not your product: Anyone can make a great widget. Not everyone can build a great company that impresses customers through jaw-dropping service, reliability or speed.
Caring counts: “Empathy” is a word rarely heard in business circles, but it plays a vital role in leadership and relationships. When it comes to negotiating, says Poon Tip, “I always say that if you intend never to see the person you are dealing with again, do a great deal. If you plan to work with them as a long-term partner, then do a good deal.”
Hire people you hate: “The biggest mistake of entrepreneurs is hiring people they want to go and have a drink with,” says Poon Tip. “In business, you don’t want people who are like you. You want people who have skills you don’t have.” For instance, he says, “I’m naturally attracted to unorganized people, because I’m a disaster. People who are detailed and organized drive me bananas. But they’re the best people for me to work with.”
