Name: Julien Machot

Title: Managing Partner

Organisation: VERSO Capital

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

We’ve gone through the interviews and asked the best of the best to come back and answer 7 MORE Questions on Leadership.

I hope Julien's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. As a leader, how do you build trust with employees, customers and other stakeholders?

As a leader, I always make sure to communicate and act with consistency, transparency, and resilience. In times of hardship, all stakeholders must know they can rely on you - you must stand solid as a rock. Every leader has a different style. I prefer the "old school," what you see is what you get.

2. What do 'VISION' and 'MISSION' mean to you? And what does it actually look like to use them in real-world business?

Vision to me is the ultimate inspiration. I attempt to gain a glimpse into the future. In my line of work, "the masters of the universe" have got a magical touch, a vision they experience and realize in their mission.

The mission to me is the purpose of all actions, decisions, and operations.

In the real world, both a vision and a mission get tested. They often deserve to be revisited, redefined. And sometimes, they are spot on - giving you a sense of alignment in the universe. Things are happening before your eyes as you make every single step count.

3. How can a leader empower the people they're leading?

A leader may choose to empower their team by entrusting them with tasks and workload. But that is only half the way to empowerment. Team members must embrace leadership and responsibilities - a precondition to success.

4. Who are some of the coaches or mentors in your life who have had a positive influence on your leadership? Can you please tell a meaningful story about one of them?

One of my close mentors is Chris Coleridge, a savvy entrepreneur and businessman who supported me when I was building my first company. He shared his wisdom, moral support, and sound advice with me when times were tough. He helped me understand that there are invaluable lessons to learn from failing.

5. Leadership is often more about what you DON'T do. How do you maintain focus in your role?

Admittedly, every day delivers a load of new situations and issues. A leader who acts with pragmatism is capable of analyzing shifts between the plan and reality. Every bit of difference tests leadership skills, including the necessity for adaptability, the need for innovation, the use of critical thinking, and a number of useful, valuable skills such as quantitative analysis, effective verbal communication, etc.

To be successful when dealing with new issues, one top priority is for a leader to maintain focus. Focus will come from applying dedicated attention to the issue at play, understanding what the core problem is, and being able to deconstruct complex situations into smaller ones.

6. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Everyone plans differently. How do you plan for the week, month and years ahead in your role?

I typically define the key objectives and plan accordingly. I plan by listing between 1 to 3 specific actions that I control fully and I deliver on with effectiveness. Each action must bear a direct impact on the top-line objectives. For longer or more complex projects, I may define subobjectives however, I will stick to simple, straightforward actions to achieve tangible results.

7. What advice would you give to a young leader who is struggling to delegate effectively?

I would advise starting with simple objectives and delegating 0 to 1 tasks and workload. By delegating simple tasks, the leader and the delegated team are positioned in such a way that they can experience success and lay the basis for more complex workloads to come.