Leading Everyday - Cultivating Tomorrow's Leaders: Strategies for Enduring Success

 

"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." Warren Buffett.

This quote by Warren Buffet is a profound reminder that we owe the benefits we reap today because of the work that was put in by others a long time ago.

In a world that often glorifies individual achievements, it's crucial to remember that our success is not solely our own. It's a culmination of the efforts and investments made by others before us. This recognition fosters a culture of gratitude and appreciation, essential for enduring success.

Being a self-made person is an illusion. We are who we are because of what others have invested in us. Just think of your parents. Would you be enjoying the fruits of success if it wasn't for the time they invested in you by raising you, teaching you life lessons, or even disciplining you when it hurt them?

As leaders, honesty is a fundamental character trait, and we would all answer a resounding "yes!" to the question above. Of course, we would give our parents much credit for the successes that we enjoy.

Planting the Seeds of Success

Leaders, your role is not just about achieving personal success but also about shaping the future. By investing in people through coaching, training, and equipping, you empower them to perform their jobs and deliver the results you expect. This is how you build a legacy of enduring success.

Parents invest in their children through counsel and, if necessary, discipline to ensure their children grow up to be responsible adults who can contribute to society and their work. Parents must invest time in their children, whether attending parent-teacher conferences, field trips, or sports events.

Similarly, business leaders, your investments in employees are for the present and future. You are building a pipeline of future leaders and high-performing individuals by instituting leadership development programs, upskilling and reskilling initiatives, and mentorship programs. This strategic approach ensures enduring success for your organization.

Whether you are a leader at home or work, you must continually and consistently invest in your family and your employees.

Leadership must invest vast amounts of resources, time, and money to ensure that significant benefits can be yielded in the future.

The Crucial Role of Foresight and Strategic Planning in Achieving Long-Term Success

Influential leaders recognize that meticulous planning is crucial to achieving success. While execution plays a vital role, planning constitutes the foundational groundwork for future accomplishments.

Consider this analogy: just as embarking on a journey without a map or itinerary is bound to lead to confusion and inefficiency, so too is attempting to secure future success without foresight and strategic planning.

Leaders who prioritize foresight invest time and effort in envisioning the future landscape, identifying potential obstacles, and devising strategies to navigate them. This strategic approach enhances decision-making, minimizes risks, and maximizes opportunities for sustained success.

Ryan Hawk, host of the Learning Leader Show and author of multiple books, always asks his guests: What qualities do leaders need to sustain success over time?

It's a great question because there is not one singular answer. Many inputs are needed if we want to achieve, sustain, and grow so that success is not just a one-time event but a recurring event.

By emphasizing foresight and planning, leaders can lay the groundwork today for the shade of success that future generations will enjoy tomorrow. As Warren Buffett's wisdom suggests, the seeds of triumph are sown through deliberate planning, ensuring that the benefits endure for years.

Sheryl Sandberg, former Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, planned and laid the groundwork for developing and nurturing young professionals, especially from underrepresented groups and women.

Her commitment to talent development and mentorship allowed her to implement initiatives to ensure Facebook's continued success after her departure. She created the "Lean In" Circles program, inspired by her "Lean In" book.

This initiative encouraged employees, especially women, to form small groups to mentor, support, and build skills.

Sheryl Sandber's leadership exemplifies a proactive approach to ensure that underrepresented groups can grow in a very competitive tech industry.

Nurturing Growth: Cultivating Strategies for Long-Term Success

Nurturing has many components to it. It is about training, coaching, and mentoring, which all help with development and lead to growth.

It takes commitment and intentionality to foster the seeds of success. Planting the seeds of success can be seen as something other than a one-time event. It is an iterative process that will yield success repeatedly and at pre-determined times.

The seeds planted in a five-year-old child are not the same ones sown in a 10-year-old. Like sowing seeds in an entry-level individual contributor, they differ from what you would plant in a fifth-year contributor.

Different nurturing types must be delivered at various times to maintain consistent success.

Different strategies must be implemented to sustain the benefits of nurturing growth and ensure sustainable development. Let me give you three: 

1. Continuous Learning and Development: Of the three I will give you, this is the most obvious and prominent one for organizations that offer these opportunities. However, it is not the only strategy; it should always be accompanied by others. Learning can be formal instructor-led training, online training, or workshops. These learning mediums almost always take place within the company's walls. However, tuition reimbursement programs can also encourage and amplify this strategy.

 2.  Feedback and reflection: In my experience, I do not know of any company that encourages this in or outside of the workplace, outside of being part of some training. However, it would be of tremendous value for companies to have a formalized process and system that is encouraged and time-devoted. Great ideas and innovation are discovered when feedback and reflection are given space to be practiced within the confines of the workplace.

 3.  Support Networks: this one and continuous learning and development are shared in businesses. A type of support network is the Employee Resouces Group (ERG). According to a McKinsey report, around 66% of employees say ERGs are effective at fostering a sense of community. The percentage of employees engaged in an ERG is unknown. Nevertheless, companies must offer this type of support network to continue growth and development in a nurturing and safe environment.

Enjoying the Shade

Enjoying the shade encapsulates the ultimate goal of leadership and investment: to create lasting benefits that extend beyond the present moment. Just as Warren Buffett's metaphorical tree provides shade to those who didn't plant it, our efforts in nurturing growth and development yield results that benefit others in the future.

When discussing enjoying the shade, we discuss the long-term outcomes of our investments in people and strategies. Here's how it applies:

·         Legacy of Leadership: Leaders who invest in coaching, mentoring, and skill development leave a legacy of empowered individuals poised for success.

·         Professional Mentorship: Just as parents invest in their children's future through guidance and support, influential leaders invest in their teams to ensure sustained growth and contribution.

·         Strategic Planning: Foresight and strategic planning are crucial to laying the groundwork for future success, ensuring that the benefits of today's efforts endure.

Reaping the Fruits: Cultivating Tomorrow's Success

Reflecting on nurturing growth and planting the seeds of success, we uncover profound lessons applicable to leadership and personal development.

Key Takeaways: Warren Buffett's quote underscores the importance of recognizing the contributions of those who came before us. Just as a tree provides shade long after it's planted, our investments in others—through coaching, mentoring, and strategic planning—yield lasting benefits.

Embracing a Vision-Driven Approach: Leaders are urged to adopt a vision-driven mindset, understanding that success isn't a solitary endeavor but a collective effort. By sowing the seeds of development and empowerment, we pave the way for future achievements.

Planting Your Seeds of Success: Be inspired to take action. Start planting your seeds of success today—invest in your team, commit to strategic planning, and leave a legacy of empowerment.

In the shade of our investments, we witness the fruits of our labor, nurturing tomorrow's leaders and fostering enduring success.

Leading Everyday - Embracing Curiosity: The Key to Unlocking Leadership Potential

 

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"When you run into something interesting, drop everything else and study it." - B.F. Skinner

I have been curious for as long as I can remember. Curiosity can manifest itself in different ways. For me, it was learning about everything that I could get my hands on. It mainly combines reading good books and articles, listening to podcasts, watching TED Talks, or taking free courses (or minimally paid) online.

My curiosity can open doors for me that otherwise would not be possible. Because of my curiosity, I have developed a comprehensive set of skills, knowledge, and abilities. While this might not make me an expert in all areas, it has undoubtedly built a toolset I can choose from depending on the need.

Curiosity in leadership is just what I described above. However, it is also about looking at complex issues from a different perspective or frame of mind. 

Leaders can solve big challenges by being curious about how a different mindset or thought pattern outside of the standard and ordinary can solve some big challenges that others might have given up on because of a lack of curiosity.

Professional and personal growth is the outcome of a curious mind. When we are interested in seeing more of what is around us and looking at it from different perspectives, we naturally develop in all areas of our lives. 

Understanding the Power of Curiosity

Curiosity is a desire to know the unknown, to look into the mystery of any given topic that piques your interest or the need to know. Curiosity plays a role in learning and growth because it takes you down paths you had never thought of or, in this case, traveled down. Along the way, you learn new ideas and insights, leading to intellectual growth and many other ways.

It can drive exploration so that you can discover things that you have never known before. When we think of exploration, we think of some great explorers like Christopher Columbus. He knew there was a new route to explore in the world. He didn’t know precisely where, but he had to start and go based on curiosity. 

Innovation is also driven by curiosity. Unknown or uncovered things can not drive technological or intellectual innovation. 

Marie Curie comes to mind when I think of a leader whose achievements were driven by curiosity. Her groundbreaking research on radioactivity was fueled by her relentless curiosity about the properties of matter and radiation. 

Her curiosity not only advanced scientific knowledge but also paved the way for generations of scientists and innovators. 

Overcoming Barriers to Curiosity

There are many barriers to a curious mind, but they can be overcome. It is innate in humans to fear failure. It is such an uncomfortable feeling that we expend a lot of energy trying to avoid fear and the feeling that comes with it. But we spend equal amounts, if not more, trying to avoid fear than if we just faced it and expended the same amount of energy being curious.

Complacency also plays a big role in inhibiting curiosity. We look at the world around us and believe everything that can be discovered, innovated, or invented has already happened. When we have that mindset, we limit the human capacity for ingenuity. 

However, there are strategies that we can implement to overcome the barriers. One of the first things we can do is shift our thoughts to a growth mindset. If we believe nothing more can be learned, we will not be motivated to learn anything new. But suppose we intentionally change our perspective and are open to the possibility of a world out there of still undiscovered knowledge. In that case, we set ourselves up to grow in many areas.

Another strategy for overcoming barriers to curiosity is to embrace uncertainty. We must acknowledge and accept the unpredictable nature of life and situations. Instead of fearing uncertainty, we should embrace it as a means of growth, learning, and adaptation. When doing this, we cultivate resilience and an open mindset to navigate uncertain times with courage and confidence.

It’s crucial to foster a culture that values and encourages curiosity within teams and organizations. From childhood, curiosity is innate; it drives exploration, learning, and innovation. 

However, societal norms and expectations may inadvertently suppress this natural inclination as we grow, equating curiosity with disruption or defiance. Yet, embracing curiosity is not a deviation from the norm but a catalyst for growth and progress. 

By nurturing an environment that celebrates questioning, exploration, and the pursuit of knowledge, teams and organizations can unlock untapped potential, spark creativity, and cultivate a continuous learning and improvement culture.

Embracing Curiosity in Leadership

Leaders can nurture curiosity within themselves and their teams by venturing beyond their knowledge boundaries. 

As a leader, I've always harbored a deep thirst for knowledge. However, it's not merely about accumulating facts; it's about practically applying that knowledge to spur growth, personally and within the team. 

This entails actively seeking new perspectives, experiences, and information that challenge assumptions and broaden horizons. By embracing a mindset of continuous learning and encouraging team members to do the same, leaders can foster a culture where curiosity thrives, innovation flourishes, and collective potential is unleashed.

Curiosity-driven leadership offers many benefits. Primarily, it fosters the crucial skill of adaptability, a cornerstone for effective leadership in today's dynamic world. Leaders must navigate ever-changing circumstances, and adaptability enables them to pivot seamlessly in response to new information or challenges. 

By embracing adaptability, leaders cultivate an openness to diverse perspectives and novel ideas, laying the groundwork for enhanced creativity and resilience. This flexibility empowers leaders to transcend rigid thinking patterns and explore innovative solutions, ultimately driving progress and success within their teams and organizations.

There are many ways to incorporate curiosity into daily leadership practices. One of the most effective and easy ways to start is by asking questions. When we do not know the answer, we should have the courage to ask questions and not feel ignorant or should have known. No one person knows everything, and that includes leaders. By asking questions, we also practice humility. 

Embracing curiosity in leadership entails actively seeking diverse perspectives, as it is a catalyst for innovation and inclusive practices. Within any organization, individuals bring myriad backgrounds, experiences, and cultures to the table, each offering a unique lens through which to view challenges and opportunities. 

As leaders, it is crucial to recognize and value this diversity, as it fosters an environment ripe for creativity and problem-solving. By embracing curiosity and inviting varied perspectives, leaders can tap into many ideas and approaches that may otherwise remain untapped. 

Encouraging participation from all team members ensures that a broad spectrum of viewpoints is considered, leading to more robust and innovative solutions. Ultimately, embracing curiosity in leadership enhances decision-making and cultivates a culture of inclusivity and collaboration within the organization.

Case Study and Example

There are many inspiring examples of organizations that thrived because of curiosity. One is Patagonia, an outdoor apparel company founded by Yvon Chouinard. Choinard’s passion for adventure and environmental activities fueled a culture of curiosity within the organization. 

Patagonia encourages its employees to challenge conventional thinking and explore innovative solutions to environmental and social challenges. For example, the company has pioneered sustainable manufacturing practices and launched initiatives like the “Worn Wear” program, which promotes repairing and reusing clothing to reduce waste.

By embracing curiosity and a commitment to sustainability, Patagonia has built a loyal customer base and become a leading voice in corporate social responsibility.

Let's ignite a curiosity revolution in leadership

Incorporating curiosity into daily leadership practices fosters innovation, inclusivity, and growth. One powerful way to begin is by asking questions—embracing the unknown, and demonstrating humility in our pursuit of knowledge. 

As leaders, we must recognize that no one person holds all the answers, and by inviting questions, we create a culture that values curiosity and continuous learning. Additionally, seeking diverse perspectives enriches our decision-making processes, bringing forth a tapestry of experiences and insights. 

By encouraging participation from all team members and embracing curiosity-driven leadership, we unlock innovative ideas and approaches, driving progress and success within our organizations. 

So, let's start by asking questions, seeking diverse perspectives, and exploring new ideas—together, we can unleash the full potential of our teams and organizations.

Bringing it together

The journey through the power of curiosity has been enlightening and empowering. As we reflect on the importance of nurturing curiosity within ourselves and our teams, we recognize its profound impact on personal and professional growth. 

Curiosity opens doors to new opportunities, fuels innovation, and fosters resilience in uncertainty. It's not merely about accumulating knowledge but embracing continuous learning and exploration. By overcoming barriers to curiosity, such as fear of failure and complacency, we unlock untapped potential and pave the way for transformative leadership.

As leaders, it's our responsibility to cultivate a culture that celebrates curiosity, questions, and diverse perspectives. By embracing curiosity-driven leadership, we pave the way for adaptability, creativity, and inclusivity within our organizations. 

Let's embark on this journey together, asking questions, seeking diverse perspectives, and exploring new ideas. Together, we can unleash the full potential of our teams and organizations, driving progress and success in the ever-evolving leadership landscape.

Leading Everyday - Embracing Failure: The Path to Success

 

"Success is sometimes the outcome of a whole string of failures" - Vincent van Gogh.

Looking from the outside, successful people may seem like they have never experienced failure. All we see are the measures of outward success, i.e., fame, money, and all the tangible and material possessions.

We can deceive ourselves by saying that successful people have always been successful and never suffered setbacks and failures.

After all, we are not there with them every step of the way to see their journey; we only see the fruits of success.

I am by no stretch of anyone’s imagination, Van Gogh, but I have failed many times before I could take laps of success.

I have failed in securing some of my most coveted jobs, only to find success and be rewarded by landing a job that fits my skillset and passion.

The list of failures followed by success can continue, but you get the point.

Understanding Failure

But we must define failure. Failure is not the end of your career or the end of something you are most passionate about. Failure is falling, not getting up, and giving up on the beautiful things life can give you.

Society sometimes perceives failure as the be-all and end of all things. But I love the quote in Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables,” Even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise.” This quote captures what it truly means to go from failure to success. It gives hope that failure is only temporary until your subsequent victory.

We have to reframe failure as a bump on the road or an obstacle we must overcome until our subsequent success. Failure has such a negative connotation that we are afraid to take risks because we fear failure. And because of that fear, we are paralyzed into inaction. But we must act, fail, fail, and succeed. We must come to terms with the fact that it is just part of the journey.

Vincent van Gogh: A Story of Resilience

Vincent van Gogh's journey is a powerful example of resilience and determination in the face of adversity, offering valuable lessons for leaders navigating their challenges. Throughout his career, van Gogh encountered numerous obstacles, including financial struggles, mental health issues, and a lack of recognition for his artistic talent. Despite these adversities, he remained unwavering in his commitment to his passion for art.

As leaders, we often face rejection and criticism from various stakeholders, just as van Gogh did from the art establishment and society. Our innovative ideas and unconventional approaches may be misunderstood or unappreciated by our contemporaries. Yet, van Gogh's story reminds us to stay true to our vision, even in adversity. Like van Gogh, we must continue pursuing our goals fervently, pouring our heart and soul into our work.

Van Gogh's perseverance and resilience are particularly relevant for leaders navigating turbulent times or facing personal challenges. Despite facing numerous setbacks, van Gogh never lost sight of his purpose. He found solace and purpose in his art, using it as a means of self-expression and catharsis. Similarly, leaders can find strength and resilience by staying connected to their core values and purpose, even amid adversity.

Ultimately, van Gogh's journey teaches us that success is not defined by external validation or material wealth but by our passion, resilience, and unwavering commitment to our vision. Like van Gogh's iconic Sunflower paintings, our efforts may not always be immediately recognized or appreciated. Still, with perseverance, dedication, and resilience, we can leave a lasting legacy that inspires others to embrace their challenges, follow their passions, and never lose sight of their dreams.

 The Leadership Perspective

Leaders can learn from failure. It can help with decision-making ability. Chances are that, as a leader, you have failed because of a decision you made. In light of that experience, when confronted with a similar decision, you will now have the expertise and background to make different decisions from before.

Failure can be a catalyst for growth. Elon Musk comes to mind, who uses failure as a launching pad for growth. Musk is highly regarded as one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time. But his road to success has been paved by failure.

In 2008, SpaceX faced a major setback when its Falcon 1 rocket failed to reach orbit for the third consecutive time. While this was disastrous, Musk embraced the failure as an opportunity for growth and learning.

Musk and his team analyzed the causes of the problems and identified areas for improvement, working tirelessly to address them. The embrace of the failure and its learned lessons made it possible for SpaceX to successfully launch the first privately funded liquid-fueled rocket into orbit with its Falcon 1 Flight 4 mission just one year later.

Musk and SpaceX have been propelled to success by his willingness to embrace failure as a catalyst for growth.

Strategies for Embracing Failure

One way is to shift our mindset towards failure. Failure should be viewed as a natural part of the learning process rather than something that should be feared and avoided. It’s natural to feel fear, so embrace and accept the feeling, but do not avoid it just because it feels uncomfortable. Remember that there is no growth in comfort zones.

If you lead a team, make sure it is safe so that team members can experiment and take risks without the fear of reprisal. As leaders, we must create an environment where ideas thrive and flourish, and creating a safe place is an environment where growth happens.

Lead by example by discussing your failures. It does two things. It demonstrates that failure has contributed to your personal and professional growth. Second, it allows them to share their failures, not hide them, and learn from them.

Conclusion

Failure is not a death knell. As Oliver Staley states in his Harvard Business Review article “Why Failure is Good,” it can actually be a path to success. It might not feel good, but it is good for learning, adapting, and decision-making.

Also, in her book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol S. Dweck argues that individuals with a growth mindset who see challenges and failures as opportunities for growth are more likely to achieve success in various aspects of life.

So embrace failure, do not avoid it, do not fear it. But look at it as an opportunity to land you on your subsequent success. 

Leading Everyday - Courage: The Backbone of True Leadership

 

Usually, when people think of courage, they think of people who willingly subject themselves to danger.

It would be a fireman running into a burning home to save a family. Or it could be a soldier going into battle fully aware that they might not return alive.

Or it can be someone like Malala Yousafzai, who courageously stood up for girls' education, defying the Taliban's ban and surviving an assassination attempt on her school bus due to her outspoken advocacy.

I would also suggest that it could be the person in a meeting who musters the courage to go against the grain and offer a differing point of view despite the fear they feel.

The examples above represent men and women who put themselves in dangerous (or simply uncomfortable) situations for a cause or a service they believe in.

All these brave souls represent what C.S. Lewis describes when he says, "Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point." – C.S. Lewis.

What is courage in leadership?

Courage has been defined in many different ways. One is not the lack of fear but the willingness to act because of that fear. And it can manifest itself in various ways.

It could be the willingness to speak up when everything in you is fighting against you not to speak up.

Or it could be delivering harsh feedback to the employee that their performance is not where it should be.

It could also mean making tough decisions that many would shy away from, but takes someone with fortitude and vision to make them.

It could be a complete shift in business strategy that doesn’t have support from key stakeholders, but knowing that if change doesn’t happen, the organization's very survival could be at stake.

Steve Jobs comes to mind when he made tough choices such as streamlining product lines, focusing on innovation, and forging critical partnerships to turn Apple around upon his return to lead the company.

Why is courage the core of every virtue?

Courage empowers other leadership virtues. It is the linchpin that enables leaders to embrace change, make difficult decisions, and inspire their teams to overcome challenges and pursue ambitious goals.

Integrity: 

Strong leadership requires the courage to stick by your values, even when facing pressure. While it's tempting to compromise under the weight of dissenting opinions, true leaders hold steadfast to their integrity.

However, as leaders, we must have the courage to stand by our values and know the difference between right and wrong. Leaders need to stand firm and be whole in their person, whether in public or private, and whether under pressure or not.

Leaders understand that compromising values erode trust and respect. Leaders with unwavering courage inspire others to act according to shared principles. It's vital to remember that compromising integrity for expediency often leads to negative long-term consequences.

Accountability: 

Courage to admit mistakes and learn from them. Admitting that we made a mistake or even that we do not know everything as leaders can be very intimidating. This is especially true when you become a leader because you know a lot, you have a lot of skills, knowledge, and technical ability, and people look up to you when business challenges present themselves.

But when you exhibit accountability, others will be more open to sharing their mistakes and admitting that they also need help. They have blind spots that can only be mitigated with the help of others who complement their skills and abilities.

Empathy: 

Courage to have difficult conversations and truly connect. Many times, we can feel uncomfortable having difficult conversations. It might be out of our skill and comfort zone, and we feel ill-prepared to have vulnerable conversations filled with emotions. However, as leaders, we must build the muscle to have conversations that will help.

The "Testing Point"

Leaders are forged in the crucible of adversity. Leadership and character are not revealed during peaceful and calm times. Think of the great leaders past and present. More likely than not, they were forged because of adversity they faced personally or as a nation.

When you exhibit courage as a leader, you gain respect and admiration from those who follow you. They know that they have a leader who will not buckle under pressure and will stand up for what is right, even if it’s to their own detriment. Also, it lets them know that you have their best interests in mind and are not just looking to save yourself.

Authentic leadership demands courage. It's the firefighter's unwavering resolve, the activist's defiance in the face of danger, and the boldness to speak your truth even when your voice shakes.

Courage isn't about fearlessness; it's about acting in service of your values despite your fear.

This courage empowers integrity, accountability, and the ability to connect with others. It allows you to make tough calls, stay true to your beliefs, and inspire those you lead.

Remember, leaders are forged in the fires of adversity. Embrace the challenges, rise with courage, and become the leader you were meant to be.

Leading Everyday - 10 Leadership Proverbs

 

Here are some leadership proverbs:

1. "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." - John C. Maxwell
2. "Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." - Warren Bennis
3. "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things." - Ronald Reagan
4. "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." - John F. Kennedy
5. "A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others." - Douglas MacArthur
6. "A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit." - Arnold H. Glasow
7. "The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." - Ralph Nader
8. "A leader is not an administrator who loves to run others, but someone who carries water for his people so that they can get on with their jobs." - Robert Townsend
9. "Leadership is not about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge." - Simon Sinek
10. "A leader is someone who demonstrates what's possible." - Mark Yarnell