Leadership is a hard to define position or skill that is essential to the success of any team or organization. While the definition and implementation of effective leadership may look different to any given person, the results of an effective leader are visible through the success of their pursuits.
Many may see themselves as lacking the ability to lead, or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, a natural leader. While there is no correct way to lead, or definitive way to judge a leader beyond success, everyone has the potential to grow and affect change in their own personal ways.
Through pursuing a degree at a university, students develop skills and techniques that fit their own qualities while learning the basics of their chosen path. And while it may not be apparent from the outset of a degree program, the building blocks of a successful leader are formed within each student, and a pathway to learn necessary skills is laid before them as they embark on their educational journey.
The University of Texas at Arlington College of Business met with alumni Xavier Egan, President of Capital Asset Advisors in Arlington, Texas, to learn about the skills and traits that create effective leaders and gain an in-depth perspective of a Black business leader.
“To me, a leader is someone who people are willing to follow. You can lead from any position or from any direction. You don’t have to be at the front of the line for everyone to be marching in the same direction. People don’t realize that all the time,” said Egan. “In order to be an effective leader, you have to have learned the traits that make a leader from somewhere. It begins with being a good follower and learning through mentors and other leaders while gaining certain skills to develop yourself.”
Xavier Egan, President of Capital Asset Advisors and University of Texas at Arlington College of Business alumni, poses for a photo while holding up a “Mav up!” had sign. (Photo by Jalen Larry)
Egan explained that the most effective leaders didn’t rely on dictation for their followers, but a deeper ability to communicate intent and the capability of allowing a team to thrive.
“Communication is the most valuable resource that you have from a skill standpoint, and how you bridge across every audience and make the most impact on people from a leadership perspective. Many students will imagine a boardroom where you speak with a higher leadership team. But communication is also being able to speak with and understand the line worker or regular manager in order to be successful,” Egan explained. “You need to be able to communicate with both ends of the spectrum. You can’t make tasks occur without bringing all the people on your team together.”
Egan explained that a common mistake he’s seen from many leaders is their words being a hindrance to the workflow of their team.
“The biggest problem with some leaders is their hubris and that they want something done exactly like they would do it. One of my methods is striving for excellence while aiming for perfection. You won’t always get something perfect, but you need to allow your team to create something excellent,” Egan explained. “An ideal leader must figure out the balance where they aren’t trying to replicate themselves within the team. When you allow your team to interpret what you want in their own way, you’re going to gain more value from them, and they’ll gain value from pursuing tasks in their own ways.”
Many students find the idea of leadership daunting or don’t know how to take the first steps to develop key skills to become tomorrow’s leaders, but Egan explained that all the resources necessary to learning how to be an effective leader are present in the university.
“The college is full of opportunities to grow. You’ve got organizations for every specialty, and faculty and staff to lean on for mentorship. I was a member of the National Association of Black Accountants. Student organizations give you experience to lead and help you gain confidence,” Egan explained. “There’s also great opportunities to find mentors, from MavMentor, to MavONE, there’s just so many ways to develop leadership qualities at the College of Business and at UTA in general.”
As a former member of NABA, Egan went on to explain the importance of inspiring the next generation of Black business leaders like him.
“We assume that things are working in a certain way, when maybe they aren’t. Last year I was surprised because I had written a book and one of the retailers asked me to do a book signing because there weren’t many Black business authors,” Egan explained. “We are still breaking barriers; we’re still creating first opportunities. It’s important for Black leaders to have a visual of every type to attribute to, whether in art or business. By inspiring the next generation of Black leaders, we have the opportunity to have representation and learn from those that came before and those who are yet to come.”
Egan explained that your college experience is the perfect time to begin developing your leadership qualities.
“This is the only time in your life where people are still looking at you with starry-eyed potential. They still see that vision; they still see that growth in you. Through this period in life when you still have the free time, you need to maximize it,” Egan said. “People are looking at your kinetic energy. By kinetic energy, I mean you need to do it right now, you need to create that motion. In order to do that, you need to challenge yourself; you need to strengthen your skills. Putting in the hard work now while recognizing who you are and the talents you have will set you up for success.”
While leadership is a generalized term to explain the guidance and organization you give your team, the skills necessary to affect change can be built right now. Students begin the process during their college careers, but the journey to become an effective leader never stops. To lead, you must learn and continue to push yourself forward.
