They Just Hired Who? You Are Not Going to Believe This!(Sitting at the Table - Part 2)

Welcome back … this (Part 2) blog will briefly address typical leadership.

Any organization that truly desires to make a meaningful contribution to their industry must value communication. An integral part to truly valuing communication is realizing that it must happen at all levels including down the organizational ladder, laterally, and most importantly up the organizational ladder. Great leaders encourage information at all levels, carefully consider and extrapolate all of the information to make the necessary adjustments. If the information is flowing properly and the leaders are open to receive it the adjustments will be better suited to put the organization interest in a position to experience success. Being able to absorb all of the information available is what separates good leaders from great leaders.

All too often employees are promoted because of ‘seniority’ or they are good at what they do in the general work environment. Consider Michael Jordan… arguably the greatest basketball player ever, but as a baseball player… you get the point. I know … there are people who say, “Stay in your lane.” What about desiring to stretch your current capacity (job or otherwise) to eventually grow into it at a later date? To that, I would encourage you to actively look for ways to develop as a leader internally and/or externally. If you share an interest in your work environment, you would be equally concerned that your co-workers are receiving the best from their respective leaders. (Elite Maui Team Building Newsletter, Volume 1 Issue 6, Acknowledging Mentors and the Lesson(s) Learned).

The good news is that leaders are spread throughout the organization. In every organization there are formal and informal leaders. The even better news is that titles are not required. Whatever your position is in the organizations know this… there is enough low hanging fruit for positive recognition without have to disrupt the progress of others. One of the most valuable lessons I learned from my military leadership training comes from the coveted professional development guide; “Successful leaders recognize that people are the most valuable resource and, without them; the organization fails.”

Let me offer a word of caution, if opportunities open up for you and you are self-aware enough to know that leading people is not something you would like to do, please do not take the position. We have all seen it at one time or another; an individual halfheartedly applies/accepts a leadership position.

Along those same lines, employees are promoted to positions of leadership and not provided the tools to fully develop into the leadership position they were promoted into. In some organizations little to no leadership training/courses are provided within the organization. Worse, organizations who do provide the training don’t ensure attendance, and many of those in leadership positions do not actively sign up on their own volition. As a result, the work environment is constantly impacted by an employee struggling to find out their leadership style by trial and error. Meanwhile, the ability to lead is shaped while haphazardly applying various patchwork practices during real time situations.

Bookstores have entire areas dedicated to literature for those wanting to know more about leadership. By all means, take a personal investment in yourself and jump in with both feet! Please allow me to humbly suggest reading a great article (September 23, 2019) in the Harvard Business Review, How to Demonstrate Your Strategic Thinking Skills, written by Nina A. Bowman. (link provided).