Thank you to the 1646 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 questions! I hope reading 7 Questions with
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Donald Okaragba
helps you in your leadership.
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Cheers,
Jonno
Donald Okaragba
Name: Donald Okaragba
Title: Co-founder & Lead Product Manager
Organisation: Meck Healthcare
I have six years of professional experience building, launching and managing software and hardware technology products. I have built expertise in industries such as energy, e-commerce, education and healthcare.
1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?
What I found most challenging is delivering difficult news. Things don't always go great. Especially, when it will affect the people I lead, sharing such news is usually challenging. I try my best to present the news in the most hopeful way.
2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?
Like most leaders, because of competency and progress with my career, more responsibilities were given to me. I began to envision leading people into achieving great things. I wasn't too good at communication. In a bit to learn more about communication, I started studying on leadership also. I read all of John Maxwell's books and several other books. I took several leadership training programs. I noticed that leaders aren't just bosses that tell people what to do. We are people who care about other people and helping them grow and achieve their goals and a common goal.
Naturally, people began to submit to me as a friend and leader.
3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?
Depending on the kinds of goals I'm working towards, I wake up early between 3am and 5am to start my day.
I pray and read a few verses of my Bible and then meditate.
I workout a little and head on to start some already scheduled work. I typically plan my day in the previous day.
I'll get a few hours of work done before 8am or 9 am when I go to check with other members of my team. I have a cup of coffee on some days at this time.
Within 10am and 11am, I have breakfast while reading my Bible in one year plan.
Then I will get back to work. Within 12pm and 1pm, I'll take a lunch break and play some mobile games.
If I have crucial meetings, they're usually scheduled after 2pm. Meetings are not an end in themselves and I seek to have fewer meetings with more time to execute on the action points from these meetings.
At the close of work, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I go to the gym or workout intensively from home.
I often take a walk 2 to 4 times each week in the evening. It helps me clear my thoughts and brainstorm on solutions.
I get back home at about 8pm and I have dinner and a bath.
Go over my day and plan what I could accomplish the next day.
I usually sleep between 9:45pm and 10:20pm.
4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?
I have recently been reminded of the power of vision and action. A leader in my team worked me through some of the strategies I shared with him early in the year and how it has changed his life by implementing such strategies in line with our vision as a team.
5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?
Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter. This book was written Liz Wiseman.
In summary, it showed the power of empathy as a leader. Multiplier leaders have been found to drive 150% growth and results in the output of the teams they lead as opposed to diminishers.
6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?
Build confidence by taking a lot of action in the ethical direction of your goals.
7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?
I had someone work in my team a few years ago. I saw a huge potential in her and kept putting her in situations that would help bring out her potentials while providing as much support and resources as she needed.
She no longer works with me directly but still shares news of what she accomplishes. This brings me great joy and it is encouraging to me.