Your Thoughts on Leadership

1. How did you grow and develop as a leader? -

Never let yourself stagnate. Make a point to keep learning, and refresh old knowledge. This is why PMI makes you earn PDUs and re-certify. Grow your knowledge on as many fronts as you are willing to make time for. Bring new concepts and ideas to the table.

I'm currently reading "12 Rules For Life" by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, the man is a modern day, practical, super-thinker and the first clinical psychologist I've ever read that I actually enjoy listening to. I think this book has something that just about anyone will identify with and benefit from. What's more, most people may never hear these ideas explained as succinctly as Peterson can put them.

2. What behaviors helped you to become a leader? -

Quiet competence, infrequent, genuine, subtle positive flattery of both subordinates and seniors. On the job competence is only half the battle, the other half is managing and growing relationships in a balanced fashion.

If you haven't already, read "The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People" it is much more than a self-help book full of platitudes. I recommend it to anyone.

Wisely volunteering for the right "kinds" of projects, (but don't volunteer for EVERYTHING or you will get buried, believe me). You want to be indispensable, but job security and job advancement are very different things

Building trust and friendship with seniors and subordinates by engaging them on a personal level.

3. What are the important leadership skills that a person need to have?

#1 Lead by example in all aspects of your position.

#2 Trust your subordinates when you know they're competent and don't forget to tell them they are a great asset when the time arises. For those who are having trouble speak to them PRIVATELY and find out what they might need to improve and find the way to help them. Understand that you won't win everyone over. Don't try to mentor someone with whom you have a personality conflict. Find a senior they do respect and try to broker a mentorship arrangement.

4. What are some helpful tips so a person can improve towards becoming a leader? -

Stay grounded, and because of that you can be somewhat self-effacing when it is truth, but also be willing to stand by your successes for the same reasons. Try to befriend as many of your colleagues as you can. Spend 1-2 minutes seconds asking them about their day, their family, etc. when the opportunity presents itself. Genuinely engage with them for that time; learn their hobbies, their husband's/wife's name, kids names and interests, etc. Let THEM speak and you mostly smile, nod and learn. You will build loyalty, BE LOYAL BACK to them.

1. How did you grow and develop as a leader?

While a good leader never stops growing, I have to attribute where I am currently to my mentor. When we met, I had finished my masters and worked in the industry for over 8 years in a BA role that was labeled project manager. When we met I struggled to build a relationship with him and often felt like changing career paths. He challenged me to do more and deal with conflict differently then I had ever prior to our relationship. I was convinced that I was ready to "lead the team" but he insisted that I wasn't there yet. After several years together, I finally got my chance to lead and prove that I was ready.

Looking back, even though it frustrated me at the time, my mentor was right to insist that I remain on smaller projects and develop all my leadership skills.

2. What behaviors helped you to become a leader?

There were several actions that I made a conscious decision to do in the develop of my leadership skills. The most important to me was identifying a mentor that wanted to see me grow and be successful and finding peers to provide an outside perspective for professional development.

Just a few weeks ago I contacted a peer and requested some professional development time. I was struggling with a request from someone within my company. I described the situation to my peer and then sat quietly while I received a lesson on emotional maturity.

3. What are the important leadership skills that a person need to have?

In my opinion the most important leadership skill one can possess is active communication. Leaders that effectively communicate their vision and actively listen to understand will be far more effective then those that do not. Our job is to set left and right boundaries and then remove obstetrical to make our team successful.


4. What are some helpful tips so a person can improve towards becoming a leader?

I would recommend that individuals with a desire to move into leadership roles or improve their leadership skills to read about other leaders they want to be like, accept that you can't always be right, and ask for an outside perspective to some of your challenges. One more thing, its lonely being the leader, develop a work life balance that will help you remain professional. Personal struggles are for family and childhood friends. Professional struggles are for friends that are peers. Struggles in your project are opportunities to develop as a team.

Stubborn concerns are pivotal points that get a certain number of hits. And when you look at them like baseball, that's when you start to field leadership with a glove. That's been my experience... thanks for a chance to chime in.