Walk Into the Future

Category: Mentoring

  • The Humble Leader

    close up photography of a cellphone
    Photo by Prateek Katyal on Pexels.com

    The concept of the humble leader sounds contradictory to what most people envision in the workplace.  The traditional leadership view (real or perceived) cast leaders as hard charging, take no prisoner and only out for themselves.

    Humility: the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one’s importance, rank, etc. (Dictionary.com)

    A true leader understands you lead people and manage programs.  Not the other way around.

    A humble leader displays a level of self-awareness within the workplace to ensure growth for everyone.  A humble leader does not seek or need the spotlight to highlight the great work of the team.  The humble leader can inspire better team cohesion, eagerness to learn and a better performance outcome for their teams.

    The process of leading by example and a leader with a humble approach when working with individuals and teams is an excellent example of this concept.  This consistent approach provides a template for others to follow and allows the team to perform knowing the true nature of their leader.

    Humble leaders:

    • Build relationships
    • Listen
    • Enable trust in the workplace
    • Show appreciation
    • Reflect
    • Display authenticity

    A humble leader puts the needs of others before themselves.  This could be a simple process of ensuring direct reports have the tools needed to perform their duties.  Sounds simple but how many times are work assignments delegated with deadlines, but instructions/tools needed to perform are not provided.  The humble leader looks to provide tools needed to ensure overall team success.  They are also not afraid to ask questions to ensure the assignment is fully understood.  Asking follow-up questions does not show weakness but shows the leader cares and wants to optimize time spent on a specific project.

    Being a humble leader does not imply weakness.  Humble leaders are always looking to improve themselves and focus on larger, organizational goals—not just their individual goals.

    A leader is best when people hardly know that they exist. (Lao Tzu)

    What impact does humility have within your current work environment?  How would this concept enhance overall productivity in the work environment?

     

     

     

     

  • The Self-Aware Leader

    Self Awareness2

    “If we agree on everything, one of us is redundant”

    (Colin Powell)

    This is one of my favorite leadership quotes from Colin Powell.  This statement identifies true leaders want and encourage feedback from their direct reports.

    This concept provides the leader with information needed to make sound decisions to help organizational growth.  New and ineffective leaders miss the opportunity to engage with direct reports on decision making for multiple reasons.  Some can be attributed to inexperience, lack of trust, and lack of self-awareness.  All can be overcome with concerted efforts to develop as a leader and engage within the work environment.  Leaders who are self-aware can begin to mitigate the inexperience and lack of trust mentioned earlier.

    How do you become a self-aware leader?

    • Look inside and become introspective
    • Identify your strengths, weaknesses, values and how others view you
    • Understand how your self-view impacts others and the work environment
    • Knowledge of how your interactions (positive or negative) influence direct reports
    • Ensure actions and decisions are based in an authentic framework
    • Strive to build authentic relationships with everyone within the organization
    • Adjust based on interactions and feedback from others
    • Advocate for a continuous learning work environment

    Work place impact of the Self-Aware Leader

    The self-aware leader improves the work environment by modeling the attributes of self-awareness.  This modeling allows direct reports to see and understand the importance of self-awareness.  The leader actively acknowledges strengths and weaknesses.  This provides a framework to enhance staff members’ development within the work environment by catering to staff strengths and working to mitigate weaknesses.

    The self-aware leader provides direct reports an engaging work environment where they know they are valued and input is encouraged.  This attribute showcases a leader who fully understands how they are viewed within the work environment.

    Finally, the self-aware leader provides an organizational foundation for success by creating additional self-aware leaders.

    How can you model self-awareness in your daily interactions?  What benefits would self-awareness bring to your work environment?

    Self Awareness

  • Mentoring

    “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” 

    (Oprah Winfrey)

    Having a mentor is an excellent way to walk into the future.  A mentor can help with your personal and professional growth.  I recommend having multiple mentors who can give you different perspectives and maximize your efforts to walk into the future.

    Identify someone who has expertise in an area you are interested in.  Use your current network to help identify a mentor if you don’t have direct connections with the right person.

    Reach out to a potential mentor and let them know your needs and gauge their ability to serve as your mentor.  Remember, this person will be ‘giving’ their time to help you grow so make sure the fit works for you both.

    You should be responsible for setting the agenda whenever you meet with your mentor.  Provide them with regular updates so they can be prepared to sit with you.  This ensures your time together is productive.

    I let my mentees identify the day, time and agenda for our regular meetings.  This helps them take charge of their meeting and helps keep us on track to meet their stated goals.  I find myself learning and growing during my sessions as much as my mentees.  This is another form of networking and I enjoy being a mentor.

    I have multiple mentors and see my personal and professional growth expanding due to mentors who have ‘reached back’ to help me.  I continue to have my eyes open for new mentors to help my walk into the future.

    How can you leverage a mentor/mentee relationship for growth?  Who can you mentor to help them move forward?

    Note:  Received text messages from two of my mentees on the same day—they both accepted offers for new positions—well done!

    For by wise counsel you will wage your own war.  And in a multitude of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 24:6)

    Make it a great day!

    Mentor