Andrew Pakes shares his top tips for leaders. In this series we meet leaders from around the world and learn some business English along the way. This series was made in partnership with the Open University. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ News Review ✔️ The English We Speak They're all available by searching in your podcast app.
Leadership to me is the ability to bring people together to achieve change.
This is Andrew Pakes.
He's the deputy general secretary of Prospect Union in the UK.
A union, or trade union is an organisation which helps to protect the rights and working conditions of employees.
In this series, we're meeting leaders from a range of businesses and and organisations to find out their advice and learn some business English.
Andrew says that being a good leader is about bringing people with you.
When leaders bring people with them, it means they keep staff or followers informed about decisions and excited about their actions.
The most surprising thing I've learned about leadership is that it takes time.
It isn't a single act, it isn't making a statement, but it's about patiently working through the issues and bringing people with you.
So what advice would Andrew give to people who want to become leaders?
I've learned over the years that the only good leaders are those that understand the colleagues around them and are able to channel and influence the passions and ideas and priorities that different people have.
And the only way you can do that is by listening.
Like other leaders in this series, Andrew.
Talks about the importance of listening to the people you work with.
He also says that good leaders can.
Channel the passions of the people around them.
This means leaders are able to shape.
And direct people's passions in a way that helps the organisation.
But what is the biggest challenge for leaders?
I think the biggest challenge for any leader is staying focused on your values, but also staying in touch with those people around you.