Steve Gavatorta: What motivates you?
Richard Levychin: I love the game of
business. In my current role I get to create who the
firm is, our identity, and strategies on how to get
where we need to go. That includes being involved in
creating the firm's branding, bringing in talent,
identifying additional lines of services to offer
clients, and bringing in business.
Steve Gavatorta: How do you motivate your
team at KBL Eisner?
Richard Levychin: By speaking to
everyone's specific listening style. Each person is
an individual so you need to motivate each one based
upon who they are and what specifically motivates
them. Some people are in it for the money. Some
people are motivated by the intellectual pursuit; in
other words they love stimulating work. So I
motivate first by speaking to what motivates them
individually. Then I create an environment that
allows my team to get their job done. Then I leave
the lines of communication wide open. And I try to
keep it fun, because fun is, well, fun.
Steve Gavatorta: Describe your leadership
style?
Richard Levychin: I am task oriented. I
feel that if I get bogged down in details, it will
limit my ability to do what I do best which is
creating the firm's branding, bringing in talent,
identifying additional lines of services to offer
clients, and bringing in business. So I surround
myself with really smart people, and I delegate like
crazy. And I set up very strong lines of
communication.
I also focus on making sure that clients are
happy, and that my team knows that, in addition to
doing the job, you need to make the client happy.
Steve Gavatorta: Who do you consider a
good leader/role model & why?
Richard Levychin: Martin Luther King. He
was able to lead with limited resources, in very
challenging times, selling something (civil rights)
that was a relatively new concept that the majority
of the country was not interested in, with a team of
people that didn't start off particularly well
trained, in a game that had huge stakes and the
potential of phenomenal downside. And he was
tremendously successful and won a Noble Peace Prize
to boot. Stories like this speak to me.
Steve Gavatorta: How do you continue to
lead through times of adversity?
Richard Levychin: I communicate a lot. I
just keep listening and ask questions. There is
always an answer in there somewhere. I believe if
you listen long and hard enough it will show up.
Also I invest a lot of time managing my stress
levels so that I can have the energy to lead by
following a proper diet, working out rigorously, and
hanging with the wife and kids.
And I never give up. I never, ever give up. I may
back off for a minute. But know that I will return.
Steve Gavatorta: During these fast paced
times, how do you lead during change and ambiguity?
Richard Levychin: Same as above. I feel
the key to getting business, having strong
relationships, and leading is listening and asking
questions. That's all you got to do. Eventually the
answer will show up. Just keep moving and focus.
Steve Gavatorta: Do you have any suggested
reading on Management, Motivation and/or Leadership?
Richard Levychin: The E Myth, The Tipping
Point and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective
People.
Steve Gavatorta: Thanks for your time,
Richard.
