Secret recipe
What Kiwis like in a boss
To be a successful leader in New Zealand you need to have a can-do attitude, be personable and friendly, but also be straight-up, a Wellington business consultant says.
Nick Sceats, of Catapult, found these to be the top three ingredients when he was carrying out research for a book he coauthored called Leaders Like You.
‘‘Being straight up is about being honest and trustworthy and telling things as they are,’’ Sceats said.
‘‘Kiwis have a low tolerance for BS and we don’t like leadership jargon. We like to be told things as they are, in simple, no-nonsense ways.’’
"Kiwis have a low tolerance for BS and we don't like leadership jargon." Business consultant Nick Sceats
Staff wanted leaders to be personable, real, and friendly, Sceats said.
‘‘We don’t like leaders who think they are superior, we want leaders we can have a beer or a cup of tea with.’’
Being personable was also about having people skills and being loyal, supportive and fair, he said.
‘‘It’s not about being an extrovert, but about being open and relaxed in your own skin.
‘‘Our research shows many successful leaders in New Zealand are quiet and unassuming everyday Kiwis.’’
The can-do aspect of the ‘‘secret leadership sauce’’ was about leaders having a positive attitude, being action-oriented and ‘‘getting things done,’’ Sceats said.
However, there were also downsides to the attributes that made up the ‘‘sauce’’, especially if one of the other ingredients was missing, he said.
While being personable helped leaders build strong relationships, the downside was some leaders do not ‘‘make the hard calls’’ for fear of being disliked.
Sceats, and co-author Andrea Thompson, hoped the book would encourage more and better leadership by making leading less daunting and more accessible.