NOT IF YOU’RE SMART!
This is a secret I learned from a highly effective CEO I worked with, as a member of his executive team. Earlier in his career, he had attained the presidency of a local college while still in his thirties. All of us on his team were impressed with his leadership skill and wisdom—the kind of savvy one might associate with a much older, much more seasoned executive.
Up Close and Personal
During one of our many staff meetings one of my fellow team members asked him point blank: “How were you able to acquire the skills of an effective leader at such a young age?” He smiled and said, “If you really want to know, I’ll be happy to address that question—but after the meeting.” By the end of the staff meeting, we were all baited…ready, willing, and eager to hear what he had to share.
He invited us into his private office, where the walls were lined with bookshelves, stuffed with an assortment of books, magazines, journals, and scholarly publications. He pointed to one large bookshelf in the corner. He told us, “These are all biographies and autobiographies of great leaders—both historical and contemporary. I have always made it a priority to read books like these, to explore the wisdom and behavior of highly effective leaders. This has been the classroom for my own leadership development.”
That resonated with advice I was given by a mentor of mine early in my career who told me, “Experience isn’t the best teacher… it’s the ONLY teacher!” Wise leaders learn from their own experiences. Wiser leaders learn from the experiences of OTHERS as well.
There are many ways you can do the same thing—easily and cost-effectively…
- Do what this CEO did: Read biographies and autobiographies of great leaders.
- Learn from good bosses and supervisors you have worked for.
- Learn from effective managers who are your peers—take them out to lunch and pick their brains… find out how they motivate and inspire their teams.
- Get some practical training resources—books or audios you can use to expand your skills. And don’t forget…
- …training opportunities your organization offers employees.
- Subscribe to leadership journals and newsletters online (many are free!)
- Find great training events you can attend or log into online.
- Join a professional association where you can draw on the combined resources of your peers at association gatherings and events.
- Look into local educational opportunities. Many community colleges offer courses taught by leaders with practical experience as executives, managers, supervisors—real world wisdom informed by real world experience (with low tuition costs!).
- STAY TUNED TO THIS BLOG! My goal is ALWAYS to provide practical insight and tools for leadership effectiveness.
There’s a well-worn adage that reminds us to “work smarter, not harder.” Working smarter means flattening your learning curve by building on the hard-won wisdom of experience—the successes and failures of others. Start turbo-charging your personal and professional development by using the ideas in this blog.
I promise to keep you learning and growing with each post.
And…On behalf of all the people you lead, manage, or supervise, I thank you for your commitment to become a better leader!
Until next time… Yours for better leaders and better organizations,
Dr. Jim Dyke – “The Boss Doctor” ™ helping you to BE a better boss and to HAVE a better boss!
