Paris School of Management is pleased to share the first video in a new video series with Professor Olivier Naray, PhD.
In this video, Professor Naray answers the question: What is the foundation of effective leadership?
His answer is short, direct, and focused on one important reminder for future managers: leadership starts with going back to the basics.
A Practical Academic Perspective
Professor Naray brings an international academic and professional perspective shaped by his experience in business, research, and international relations.
At PSM, he teaches Research in Business, International Business, and Organisational Behaviour. These areas connect closely with the themes addressed in the video, especially the importance of understanding how people work together, how organisations function, and how managers can approach leadership with greater awareness.
Going Back to the Basics
In his answer, Professor Naray explains that effective leadership starts with going back to the basics.
While many leadership concepts can become popular, he points out that managers should not approach leadership naively. Being kind, supportive, and understanding can be valuable, but leadership also requires a clear view of what needs to be achieved.
For Professor Naray, leadership is connected to results and outcomes.
Leadership and Team Dynamics
Professor Naray highlights that leadership involves people around you, whether they report to you or not. It also involves different dynamics, challenges, and sometimes competing interests.
For this reason, his message is clear: future managers should not be naive when thinking about leadership. They need to understand that leading people also means dealing with different situations, expectations, and struggles.
A Valuable Message for Future Managers
Professor Naray’s answer offers an important reminder for PSM students preparing for careers in management and leadership.
Effective leadership is not only about following popular concepts. It also requires clarity, awareness, and a strong focus on results. For future managers, this means paying attention to the people around them, understanding team dynamics, and staying focused on the outcomes they need to achieve.
This is also where business education plays an important role: helping students develop the judgment and confidence to lead with both awareness and purpose.