Social media addiction is costing the world time, creativity and knowledge, according to Robin Sharma, author and leadership expert, who imparted advice on becoming a great leader during the first day of the World Government Summit (WSG) 2017.

Social media addiction is costing the world time, creativity and knowledge, according to Robin Sharma, author and leadership expert, who imparted advice on becoming a great leader during the first day of the World Government Summit (WSG) 2017.

“People are addicted to entertainment [and] their devices. People don’t practice or learn anymore; the victim loves entertainment, the leader loves education,” he said. “Education is inoculation against disruptions, the person who knows the most wins, especially in a world with a lot of volatility.”

Sharma pointed that all one had to do was to find a quiet place isolated from distraction and simply focus for around 10,000 hours over time on what one wanted to become perfect at.

“The neuro-path focused on gets stronger and stronger every single day, it’s a pharmacy of mastery,” he enthused.

This works equally for materialising great ideas.

“The seat of reasoning starts to shut down. If you go to a quiet place and focus on what you want, you go from beta to alpha, that’s when great work is done it comes from inside not from thinking. Cortisol inducing fear hormone reduces, incidentally also when one works out sweats, and feel good serotonin is released – a state of flow,” Sharma explained.

“By doing deep interior work, meditation, long walks in the desert you create ‘soulset’ to find the power for change, the mission.”  

The rules of legendary leadership:

1) Victims are all about 'can’t', leaders are about 'can' – the psychology of possibility

2) Victims makes excuses under which lives fear of success, self-deception...etc. – leaders get work done

3) Victims are distracted, addicted to being ‘busy’ – leaders focus on a few things; they don’t dilute energy and potential, but are present

4) Victims are frightened of change – leaders are inspired by change

5) Victims are brainwashed followers – leaders think for themselves are originals (being called 'eccentric' or 'weird' is a compliment. Divorce yourself from the herd)

“You have to have to be authentic, passionate, caring, honourable and have a mission to be inspired to lead. People forget your words but pick up on the sparkle in your eyes and your emotional energy,” Sharma said.

Five devotions to great leadership:

1) Be so good at what you do, that people can’t take their eyes off you

2) Release addiction and distraction, technology disrupts us every 11 minutes and it takes 20 minutes to re-focus

3) Avoid arrogance of success

“When you’re successful you’re on thin ice, the key is to become more humble, study even more, work and innovate,” he said, pointing out that great empires and leaders have fallen for a reason, such as ego getting in the way. “Leadership is in many ways about what you do when no one is watching, you can lead without a title, deriving leadership from a business card puts you in a very vulnerable position, people respect approach not the title."

4) Leave people better than you found them – to lead is to serve

“People are craving what’s real; they will never forget how you made them feel. Mindset without ‘heartset’ is a hollow victory; it's not minds, but hearts that create great things, clean out anger, resentment and the past."

5) Failure is greatness waiting to happen

“We grow when things are difficult, we learn to forgive, lies help us learn our boundaries.”