Maximise value and profits will follow

BEING a leader has never been easy. In today's business world it is increasingly demanding. You are caught between conflicting pressures all happening at the same time.

You must keep your company focused on achieving its purpose - whether developing innovative medicines to save lives, creating tempting foods and drinks to satisfy demanding customers or making complicated processes easy and stress-free. But you must also maintain revenues and profits in an increasingly competitive and unforgiving landscape.

Leaders who do not improve shareholder value get fired. At the same time you must manage your employees, customers and suppliers humanely while striving to make work interesting and fulfilling.