Why is Tom Shelby a good leader?

We are in Birmingham, England. It is 1919 and the Great War just finished. British soldiers return, as winners but totally exhausted, to a devastated and depressed motherland. The Shelby family has been doing OK during the war period in their illegal horse racing betting business. Three of the Shelbys, who battled in France, return to take over the business. This is where Peaky Blinders (Shelby’s gang name), the world acclaimed BBC series also available on Netflix, begins.

I am not going to tell you more about Peaky Blinders. I can only recommend it so far. Today I would like to focus on Tom Shelby, the leader of the gang. He is not the natural leader of the gang. Initially this is Arthur, the eldest brother, the one that becomes the head of the family. However, Tom takes over quickly and I believe he does a great job as a leader. Why?

He has a clear vision on how to grow the family business. He wants to move from a small illegal shop in Birmingham to a country wide enterprise with legitimate (and illegitimate) businesses. He is able to communicate this vision effectively and persuades his brothers to believe in that far-reaching vision. Finally, he executes relentlessly towards that vision, irrespective of the multiple hurdles and setbacks he finds along the journey.
When problems arise, he is the first in line. He does not shy away from life-threatening situations with other gangs. He accepts the results of his decisions no matter the outcome and he takes accountability for his team’s actions.

He is personable. He is tough with his team. At the same time, he knows the personal story of his team members and he spends time to do what needed (from finding a stolen kid to solving an alcoholism problem) to help the individuals strive in their work.
His vision, his sense of accountability and his human side make him a great leader. One that gains trust, loyalty and success. This is obviously a totally different business than Damco’s. However, Tom Shelby’s leadership style is a good example for any business.


What do you think leaders can learn from Tom Shelby?

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