A Nigerian billionaire has been on my radar for years, and a few weeks ago, I finally got the opportunity to meet him.
Tony Elumelu, a respected billionaire businessman, is the chairman of Heirs Group (a family-owned investment company with business interests in oil and gas, health, and insurance). Furthermore, he’s the chairman of one of the biggest banks in Nigeria, the United Bank of Africa (UBA), often regarded as Africa’s global bank. UBA has subsidiaries in 20 African countries and offices in London, Paris, and New York.
Mr Elumelu is also the creator of the Africapitalism movement, a philosophy based on the premise that the private sector is the key to economic and social development. Moreover, through his foundation, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, over 10,000 African entrepreneurs have been empowered to scale their businesses.
Although Mr Elumelu’s accolades are many, one being listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020, it was his communication style that caught my attention.
Now, I’ve been a fan of Mr Elumelu’s work for years and have watched some of his keynotes and media interviews. In 2019, in this blog post, I highlighted and analysed a speech he gave at the BpiFrance Inno Generation Event.
Then a year later, I hoped to interview him for my book Influence and Thrive. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible due to his understandably busy schedule managing his empire. However, a few months after publishing my book, I mailed him a special colour hardcover copy from London in which I included a printed customised note.
A few months later, I was invited to a special mentoring session with Tony Elumelu in Lagos. I was fortunate to have been considered without needing to ‘pitch’ my slot in the programme.
Tony Elumelu’s excellent nonverbal techniques
The event was held at the impressive Heirs Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. The venue was perfect: It was spotless, pristine, and alluring with manicured lawns and attractive decor.
Strict covid protocols were observed. All visitors wore masks, underwent a rapid covid test, and sanitised hands. They also adhered to the social distancing measures in the seating arrangements.
The event was a hybrid format. Participants attended in person in Lagos, while others joined remotely from other African countries.
After we were seated, each in the position where the name tag indicated, I noticed with interest that I was placed in the front row.
Then Tony Elumelu walked in.
Being accustomed to identifying nonverbal cues in my work, I noted four that Mr Elumelu displayed as the event progressed. He may/may not have been aware of them, but they sharpened his gravitas.
I) His movement
Tony Elumelu, in a perfectly tailored business suit and gleaming black shoes, walked into the room purposefully.
The first thing I noticed was that he walked tall, with shoulders squared. His comfortable yet powerful gait immediately commanded attention.
He was a man who knew the importance of first impressions.
II) His use of space
He entered the room and stopped in front of the podium. Then he took up space. And that was smart.
With his entire body visible, on display, and not cut off by a barrier, we could gauge his demeanour. His ‘open’ body language—hands not closed—indicated that he was open to interactions.
As the introducer explained how the programme would be structured, Tony Elumelu surveyed the room and acknowledged the audience. Then he walked a few spaces in front of the audience before going to the lectern to begin his speech.
Throughout the session, he moved from behind the podium to the front of the room when telling stories, making points, or answering questions. And when addressing the virtual audience, he shifted his gaze towards the camera before switching back to the audience physically present.
He was a man who knew how to use movement to increase reliability and credibility. That skill comes with experience and is deliberately honed over time.
III) His tone and gestures
His tone was always light, conversational, and engaging. He laughed when he recounted some humorous anecdotes and put everyone at ease.
For a billionaire, he was incredibly relatable. You got the impression that he was inviting you into his world, albeit a powerful one, which was a mix of influence, wealth, and impact. Still, seeing him interact with all present, you felt that you could replicate his successes with vision, commitment, and grit.
Tony Elumelu also displayed no airs. He was candid in his accounts but careful not to make sweeping statements that could be misconstrued.
Then he used ‘warm’ body language such as open arms, smiling, eye contact, and nodding to accentuate his points or bond with the audience. His animated gestures made his delivery engaging and him trustworthy.
The one question I asked Tony Elumelu
Towards the end of the programme, the attendees got to ask him questions about entrepreneurship, business, and life. And I was interested in knowing one thing.
When I got up to speak, I asked him to share his best tips for communicating effectively to influence people and get results—based on his experience securing deals, travelling widely, and speaking on different stages.
Mr Elumelu’s answers were precise:
a) Embrace your authenticity
He stressed the importance of having a good sense of self, knowing your principles, and being comfortable in your skin.
Be convinced that authenticity is a differentiator. Don’t try to imitate others.
b) Tell stories
Specifically, tell your stories. Otherwise, people will make up their versions of you and what you stand for.
Building on the first point, Mr Elumelu emphasised that knowing what matters to you and repeatedly communicating your stories were critical to influence.
c) Speak simply
Adopt a conversational style and speak the way you would to a friend. However, remain flexible.
Know your audience. The ability to ‘read the room’ is also helpful in knowing how to tweak your communication for a specific audience.
I nodded as Mr Elumelu spoke. He gave timeless recommendations that I often preach, some of which I echoed in my book.
After the programme, there was a cocktail where participants, including me, had the opportunity to chat with him one-on-one. I found him accommodating and attentive as we briefly talked. It was an honour to finally meet Tony Elumelu in person after years of admiring his work.
I also had the pleasure of presenting him an autographed hardcover copy of Influence and Thrive as a gift to his wife, Dr Adele Elumelu, whom I hadn’t had the pleasure to meet.
Conclusion
Over the years, I’d read Tony Elumelu’s blogs and watched him speak on different platforms.
But meeting this African billionaire business icon, listening to his anecdotes, and observing him firsthand all reinforced what I’d known for years:
Superb communication skills (nonverbal, speaking, and writing) boost your reputation, increase your trustworthiness, and amplify your influence.
So, in addition to your other worthwhile efforts, learn from Tony Elumelu’s excellent communication skills and stay ahead of the competition.
Over to you:
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N.B: First image is courtesy of Cristian Ferronato via Pixabay. Second and third images are courtesy of TonyElumelu.com. Fourth and fifth images are courtesy of Lucille Ossai. Last image is courtesy of Gerd Altmann via Pixabay.