With a remarkable career that began in 1995 as a messenger at Deutsche Bank, Rui went on to develop a solid career before founding Doutor Finanças, a leading personal financial consulting company, in 2014.

In an interview published in issue #10 of MCG’s M Magazine, Rui highlighted four key ideas for more effective leadership, as well as discussing various other topics. Full interview in the digital edition of MCG’s M Magazine #10.

4 key ideas for effective leadership

1 | Overcoming the comfort zone

Asked about the importance of challenging limits, Rui emphasizes that stepping out of the comfort zone is essential for personal and professional growth.

“This is a way to challenge and test ourselves. When we stay in the comfort zone for too long, our growth potential becomes very limited. Our perspective becomes skewed, and it becomes harder to find new solutions. Stepping out of the comfort zone and surrounding ourselves with people who think very differently from us are two key elements for growth. Therefore, I would say it’s one of the essential pieces for evolution.”

2 | Responsibility in managing one’s own professional journey

For those who feel they have stagnated professionally, Rui argues that the solution lies in the ability to self-analyze and set goals.

“I don’t have magic answers that work for everyone. When I realized that my growth was limited, I also realized that I had to do something. I think it’s crucial to internalize that we are the ones holding the reins of our careers. It’s not the managers of companies or our direct bosses. I would say that we need to assess who we are and who we want to be, or where we are and where we want to be. And try to set achievable goals. It’s pointless to just dream. We need to dream with actionable goals. (…) And even though there are no answers that work the same for everyone, it’s essential that we don’t let ourselves become complacent. It’s important to find ways to test ourselves so we can continue to grow.”

3 | Leadership based on active listening and team participation

When asked about how a leader can motivate their team, Rui Bairrada highlights the importance of active listening and involving employees in decision-making.

“Listen to the people you work with. This is the best advice I can give to a leader. Listen actively and help them grow by involving them in the organization. Only then can you motivate people. They need to feel like they are truly part of something. If the only thing we do is give them tasks to perform, we will easily lose those people. It’s necessary to bring each individual to the center of the company, understand who they are, what they can contribute, and how. I believe that by putting people at the center of decisions, we find better solutions to the problems that arise, while also having people who are much more committed (and happy!) with the project.”

4 | Close monitoring and clear goal setting

For companies to promote a productive and inspiring environment, close monitoring of employees is essential, as Rui Bairrada mentions:

“The key is close monitoring that ensures the well-being of each individual. It’s necessary to have an organization that allows leaders to dedicate time to their teams and support them, sharing knowledge, helping to unlock issues, and providing a balance between their role as employees and as individuals. Furthermore, it’s essential to have a clear definition of achievable goals, which are set together with the teams. In this way, there is commitment from each team member. From there, it is possible to monitor people and identify areas for improvement, when it’s necessary to relieve some pressure or, on the contrary, to step on the accelerator with more vigor. Like any relationship, there needs to be trust, transparency, and reciprocity.”

These four topics were created based on the interview with Rui Bairrada in M Magazine #10:

Rui Bairrada

Rui started his professional life in 1995 as a messenger at Deutsche Bank, leaving the bank 12 years later and already serving as Partnership Banking Coordinator. The reason for his departure was the creation of his own personal finance business. After being Managing Partner at Personal Finance, General Director at Dignus Capital, and Board Member at Reorganiza, he founded Doutor Finanças in 2014, a company that is now a reference in helping people make better financial decisions for their lives. In addition to being the CEO of Doutor Finanças, he is a speaker in the areas of leadership, motivation, and human resources, and also the author of the book “From Messenger to CEO: the decisions that build leadership.” As he himself states, Rui “is a leader of affection who likes to mobilize people around a purpose.”