Successful leadership depends on the two 'P's - products and people. To be a successful leader and to drive a high rate of growth, we have to make the 'people' part successful. It is crucial to create an environment within the company where people feel confident enough to take right decisions for the company.

To create this environment, clear goals must be created for everyone, performance should constantly be measured and gaps need to be addressed. Achieving goals require the cooperation of different people at different levels, hence it is absolutely essential to foster a team approach.

A true leader creates a compelling vision for the organisation and an environment in which people can debate, discover and plan the best course of action for dealing with complex situations. Leadership is the responsibility of each and every person in the organisation. Leaders must never be shy of debate and must listen carefully to what their people have to say. Success depends on your agreement with Winston Churchill's observation: "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

Your behaviour reflects your concerns, convictions and character. True leaders maintain consistency in their attitude and approach to employees, customers, suppliers and business partners.

Great leaders must master three fundamental skills: inspiring employees, building leaders at every level and delivering results. The best leaders are constantly seeking to grow in their knowledge and their skill-set. Leaders who don't continue to grow their arsenal of leadership tools and resources soon find themselves trailing behind other leaders in their field or industry.