Dropping a pebble into body of water, no matter how large, creates a ripple effect that can be seen long after the pebble disappears. The same can be said for the impact that the right leadership has on teams and the organizations they are a part of.
Thousands of conversations centered on innovation, culture, and retention happen daily: how to grow innovation, how to build a positive company culture, how to retain top talent… the list is endless. And there are even more strategies built around those conversations but at the end of the day, it’s a simple answer.
The right leader.
Recently, K&R Managing Partner Phillip Osborne sat down with Independent Director Nicki Anderson to discuss the implications leadership has on organizational success. A true transformative leader is often the catalyst for change within a company because change starts at the top.
“The right leader really creates that tone and that culture from the top,” Anderson said. “That positivity and enthusiasm actually permeate throughout the business with them.”
While there is no one-size-fits-all leader for organizations across the food-ag value chain, key components are often shared among impactful leaders. Some of those core elements Anderson listed included traits like authenticity and transparency, but just as important is the ability for a leader to share their vision and then allow their teams to innovate according to Osborne.
“It has become critical that leaders create environments where people can make mistakes,” Osborne said. “They need to know they’re allowed to take risks, that they have the ability to try new things without it being an issue at their annual review.”
Those traits and practices build trust between leaders and their teams and create a healthy company culture. That, in turn, results in more innovation, better retention, and higher productivity, making the ripple effect of the right impactful leader evident in all areas of the organization.
Nicki Anderson has spent 25 years working with retailers and consumer goods manufacturers across Oceania, Asia, Europe, and America. Her leadership experience includes roles with the likes of Dr. Pepper Snapple, Coca Cola Amatil, Powerforce, Cadbury Schweppes, Nestle, and Kraft among others. During her tenure with those organizations, her focus centered on sales, marketing, strategy, innovation, and customer experience. Nicki currently sits on several boards of directors including being a member and former Chair of the Monash University Advisory Board for the marketing faculty.
K&R Managing Partner Phillip Osborne works with clients in the agribusiness, beverage, food & food ingredients, and FMCG sectors across the APAC region. Read more about his experience here.
