x factor

The news and media this week are filled with stories of Misha B voted off by the general public in the UK version of X Factor. Throughout the whole of the series Misha has shown a huge amounts talent and in the words of the judges any record company would sign her without hesitation. So why is it that Misha B didn’t make the finals? Well this was the first week that she could not be saved in the sing off and was at the hands of the public vote. Having been in the bottom three times before it would come as no surprise that Misha was probably the lowest each week, kept in by judges.

Yet, was it the judges that put her in this position? Irresponsible comments from a judge earlier in the series may have switched the voting public off. Once we have a view of someone, and when that view comes from a position of responsibility it’s hard for us to change our minds. Returning Amelia was a distraction for the voters and for the Misha fans who sit in the same target audience.

Misha gave an exceptional performance on her last show on Sunday, she was back to who she was as an artist and was authentic and confident. This authenticity will position her to be successful. I have no doubt that in the next 12 months we will see an amazing album released. Look at the past X Factor pedigree to see this in action. Coming 1st is not the best option to be successful. Those that sing the winners song go on to produce mediocre work. What has happened to the likes of Steve Brookstein, Leon Jackson and Joe McElderry, all won the show all now shadowed by runners up. JLS outshine that years winner Alexandra Burke. One Direction outselling Matt Cardle’s album and Olly Murs album realise top’s the charts. The runners up achieve success by engaging with their audience and being authentic. The winners had a blaze of glory and disappear.

This happens all the time is business. How often do we see people in race for first place only to have the runners up be more successful in the long term. How often do senior teams set some people up for success and some people get forgotten or ignored. Are these the people that will go onto be more successful in the future and is it the slow rise to success that is key to their formula.

Look at the business world to see that those organisations that innovate are the successful ones. They may not have been the first to do what they do but they certainly are now the best. Apple being the best example of this, they weren’t the first to make computers, mp3 players and smart phones, they are now the most successful.

As organisations move from a cultures of survival into growth and success, todays leadership teams need to be able to win the hearts and minds of their followers. This is a first place must, winning is the best option. Focusing on engaging with the teams in order to build a healthy organisation will ensure success in the long run. Difficult times have been a strain on employee morale meaning that leaders and managers ability to inspire and motivate teams is more important than ever before.

Organisations have been slow to embrace the new learning methods and ideas such as NLP and Emotional Intelligence. Today, organisations around the world are harnessing the power of such theories and seeing leadership teams engage with their followers on a much higher level. Research show’s that organisations with 63% employee engagement see double digit growth.

Leaders that take time to develop an understanding of their emotions and others are on the right track for success. Developing Emotional Intelligence and continuing a journey of self awareness, knowing the impact they have on others and the their best way to lead can only equal success. While the competition are out there deciding what it is that they will do to be the winner, expect a quite revolution from Emotional Intelligent Leaders who are aiming for success rather than crossing the finish line in a blaze of glory.