Communication – The Most Effective Key to Successful Leadership

In the series of CEO Insights as part of the The Great Manager Awards by People Business Consulting Awards, Mr. Benoit RENARD, Managing Director, at Air Liquide India had a  candid conversation with Mr. Rahul Mahajan, where he shared his views on leadership.

Rahul: What is your leadership style like, and what are some of the dos and don’ts around you?

Benoît: My leadership style is versatile. I believe in leading people by inspiring and motivating them to achieve our common goals. I also believe in mentoring my team at the direct level in the right direction to develop their skills and help them grow professionally. It is necessary to set clear guidance and give conscience instruction. Diversity and Inclusion is another concept that I vouch for. One of the key learnings that I have had over the past years is the importance of creating a positive and supportive work environment, which in turn helps the employees deliver the expected.

Talking about the don’ts - being aggressive or having a feeling of revenge is something I’m not comfortable with. Compromising with ethics is something that is not acceptable. Be honest and transparent with the decisions you make. Being able to do a fair assessment and reflect back with the right solution is what I appreciate the most.

Rahul: What’s your vision for Air Liquide?

Benoît: My vision for Air Liquide is to always be positive with our approaches. And the right way to motivate people for this is by being honest. 

India has a competitive DNA, and investors are always fighting for the spot. So we need to take advantage of this to scale up Global Business. So to invest, and to deliver on what we had promised is my vision for Air Liquide. 

Rahul: If you had the opportunity to ask only one question and the basis that decides whether to hire the candidate or not, what could that question be?

Benoît: I would ask,

“What good can he/she bring to the company?”

Rahul: How would you describe yourself in a word?

Benoît: Leader

Rahul: If you could go back in time and meet the younger Benoît, what advice would you give him?

Benoît: My first piece of advice would be to stay positive under all circumstances. I will also tell him to keep learning to stay ahead of the curve. When I look back, I would have saved time if I would have been more mature and had promoted my ideas and interests more openly. So to not be shy and to voice out opinions and views would be my last advice to the younger me. 

Rahul: What do you think are the most critical competencies of a Great Manager?

Benoît: A Great Manager is someone who should be able to communicate effectively and pass on the right message to strategize well. In the world we live in, it’s equally important to be goal oriented and to be competitive in the field he/she is in.

Rahul: What is the most common piece of advice you find yourself giving the younger generation?

Benoît: My advice for the younger generation will be to be challenging always. There will be no joy or happiness in the work they do if they don’t raise their voice or challenge the situations. As experienced professionals, we need to support them in their networks in their learning journey which might cause confusion. 

Rahul: What are some of the X-factors that you expect from your top management?

Benoît: The most important factor for me is communication. As a leader, he/she should be able to share a clarified vision and should have the strategic mindset to make the right decisions. The capability to lead the team and manage the accounts equally brings out their true leadership spirit.