Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1361797
NEWS 15.4.2021 Kevin-James Fenech Kevin is the founder and owner of JOB Search - jobsearch.mt and FENCI Consulting fenci.eu. He is a management consultant and business advisor by profession, focusing on strategy, human resources and recruitment. He has a passion for anything related to business and has written about the topic for over 10 years in most major newspapers or journals T his was the week when UK newspapers and me- dia channels were inun- dated with coverage on Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Arguably, the most famous hus- band in the world. To my mind, he was an extraordinary man who most definitely led an ex- traordinary life. Having lived in the UK during the 1980s and 1990s as a young student, and recently watched e Crown on Netflix, I have followed the royal coverage this week with particular inter- est. I came across a particular article penned by Piers Mor- gan, 'Philip's 10-point guide to royal survival' which I must say should be obligatory reading for any leader especially those in business. I find the 10 point guide, sim- ple (not to be confused with simplistic), practical and highly relevant to all of us. Anyway, without further ado here is the list: 1. Park the ego; 2. Don't whine; 3. Work hard; 4. Read; 5. Avoid scandal [contro- versy]; 6. Stay off oprah [don't talk about yourself ]; 7. Keep fit and do everything in moderation; 8. Stay grounded; 9. Just get on with it; 10. Do your best. At first glance the list looks overly simplistic but it is actu- ally pure genius. CEOs or leaders in general, frequently make the mistake of thinking it's all about them and as a consequence they court popularity. It is never about you but always about the posi- tion you hold. Others have held the same position before you, just like others will hold the same posi- tion after you. Stay humble and never seek popularity. Focus on the job. When you are the leader, meaning you earn more than your employees and have more privileges, resist the temptation to complain or seemingly feel sorry for yourself. Leadership means pressure, long working hours, sometimes unjustified attacks on you and unfair treat- ment but you have to take it on the chin and remain quiet since it comes with the turf. Anyone who ever achieved anything will tell you it was al- ways thanks to sheer hard work ! Yes you need talent, yes you need a bit of luck but always you need hard work. So work hard (always). Never underestimate the im- portance of reading books. I know the younger generation don't have the patience to read books in this digitally crazy multitasking world but read- ing is essential to any leader. Choose your books wisely but read abundantly, since it opens up your perspective, it edu- cates you and it is food for your brain. Now a days, scandal and con- troversy seem part and parcel of leadership. Yet it is still es- sential and highly beneficial to stay humble, low profile and avoid controversy with all your might. Controversy distracts and undermines even when you are right; so avoid it. If you do an interview make sure it is never about you! An interview should always be about your organisation, your people and the mission. e minute you start talking about 'Me, myself & I', the ego inflates and mistakes are made. Keep physically fit and strong. I can't emphasise how im- portant physical wellbeing is to you and your job. Healthy people equal healthy minds and happy moods which com- bined leads to the best version of yourself. If it were for me, I would have it in every contract of employment that leaders and employees in general train and keep fit. e scientific re- search about the benefits of physical exercise, especially in open air, are crystal clear in favour of physical exercise. No debate here, keep physically fit and strong. No matter how high you go in your career always stay grounded. Good manners, re- spect everyone and stay hum- ble. Big egos and self-inflated opinions about oneself will get you no where good. Humility and will are what make great leaders. Sometimes, especially the younger generation, spend more time complaining or feeling sorry for themselves or seeking the help of a life time coach, counsellor or even ther- apist, when a bit of resilience and toughness will actually make them stronger and better equipped for future challenges. Leadership is after all a journey and we will all at sometime or another get a bloody nose, so the important thing is how we deal with it or how we cope. Experience has taught me, to just get on with it and focus on what I can or must do rather then dwelling too long on what happened or worse feeling sor- ry for myself. Finally, and at the end of the day, if you do your best that's more than enough. People will always criticise or undermine, sadly its peoples' nature almost to begrudge successful people. So if you've done your best and have a clean conscious, ignore what the haters or armchair critics say. Royal survival course courte- sy of Prince Philip RIP. A guide to royal survival Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the longest- serving consort of any British monarch, died on 9 April at age 99