Todd Wilms shares 10 leadership lessons he has learned over 20 years in leadership positions at major companies. The lessons include focusing on long-term strategy rather than short-term gains, prioritizing building trust over titles, and understanding that leadership is defined by how you handle failures as well as successes. Wilms draws on his experience at companies like eBay/PayPal, Citrix Online, and PeopleSoft to offer advice for developing leadership skills.

1. 10 Leadership Lessons
I Wish I Had Learned In My 20’s
By Todd Wilms, Social Strategy at SAP

2. The collection of 10 Leadership Lessons is the culmination of 20 years
in leadership positions at some of the best known brands on the
planet, like eBay/PayPal, Citrix Online, PeopleSoft, and agency GPJ.
Todd is the social strategist to help SAP realize its goal of becoming a
world-class social enterprise, where he also speaks around the world
and contributes on Forbes and other popular media platforms.
He is currently on the advisory board of Online Marketing Institute and
was previously on the Operating Board of the Northern California
Chapter of the MS Society.
Please read the original, accompanying piece on Forbes at
www.forbes.com/sap
For further insight and information, please follow Todd at
@toddmwilms or on LinkedIn.
The following views expressed are my own and do not reflect those or imply
endorsement of SAP or any other organization.

3. © 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 3
“Focus straight ahead –
the other stuff wont
matter”
1.

4. © 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 4
It’s All Personal, Not Business
You aren’t in a Michael Douglas* movie. What you say and do impacts people.
* Wall Street or any other movie where he plays a corporate jerk.
2.

5. © 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 5
Think Marathon, Not Sprint
Smarter decisions will be made by thinking of the
long-term strategy, instead of the short-term gain.
3.

6. © 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 6
Find a Mentor
Get that “go to” person in your life
4.

7. © 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 7
There Are
Incredibly Smart
People Who Will
Help You If You
Ask
“You Just Need To Ask”
5.

8. © 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 8
6.
Leadership
Doesn’t Need
A Title
It starts with “trust”

9. © 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 9
7.

10. © 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 10
8.

11. © 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 11
What Is More Important Is How You Handle The Big Screw-Up
8.
“Leadership is as much about defeat as it is about success”

12. 10.

13. BONUS:
You can outlast that thing standing
between you and your goals