Hugh McColl Jr.

How I got where I am

My father opened the door for me at American Commercial Bank, giving me the opportunity to compete against others. At first, I was intimidated by people who had graduate degrees in business, but then I learned that I could compete effectively through hard work, long hours, the discharging of responsibilities as rapidly as possible, and then asking for more. While in high school and the Marine Corps, I learned that I could accomplish nothing by myself but needed other people. Most of what I accomplished in my career was through the results of other people’s talent and labor. My skill was in getting them to focus that talent and energy on my goals. As a leader, it is important that your goals encompass the goals of your followers.

Defining leadership

Leadership is the ability to get other people to follow you. They do so because they believe they can accomplish their goals more easily and more assuredly by following you than they could alone. Leadership is the ability to paint a picture with words that inspires people to want to achieve together more than they can by themselves.

Qualities of a good leader

• A good leader must care about his or her followers. People only entrust their future or their lives to someone they trust.
• Never ask anyone to do something you wouldn’t do or haven’t done yourself.
• Use a rewards system that is fair and accountable in judging and paying for performance. People will follow a leader who is fair in the division of the spoils of success.
• Optimism is important, and it is contagious. You can’t win unless you think you can. Part of a good leader’s job is to convey that.

Learning to be a good leader

I think the best thing to do is to observe what good leaders do. You can’t fool people – you either like them or you don’t; you either care about them or you don’t. If you are unwilling to do yourself what you ask other people to do, you will not be successful.

Lessons learned

The most important lesson I have learned as a leader is that there is no limit to what you can accomplish through other people.

Birth date: June 18, 1935
Education: BS in business administration – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
First job: Management Trainee, American Commercial Bank
Favorite Quote:“Cash knows no enemies.”