What I Learned from the Best Leaders in My Career
The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.
So here I am, a what is called seasoned professional in the career game. I have been blessed to lead teams, and I have worked for over fifteen bosses, managers and leaders.
It made me reflect on what made some of them stand out and allowed me to go the extra mile and deliver beyond expectations, and grow my professional skills and capabilities.
So yippie ki yay, here is how three leaders had a significant positive impact on my leadership style, by looking at how I started working for them, and what it was they did that made them awesome inspirational leaders to work for.
If any of my other managers read this — please realise I liked almost all of you :-)
“People prefer to follow those who help them, not those who intimidate them.” — C. Gene Wilkes
Leader #1: The believer
Act 1: Hired for attitude
When applying for the position with this leader, I was taking my career into a different direction. I had zero experience in what was asked for the position.
Fortunately, they took a chance on me and hired me — because of my great work attitude.
I remember this leader one time telling me that, he’d rather have someone who can’t do it but wants to, than someone who can but doesn’t have the will to do it themselves.
Act 2: Work hard, get total flexibility
The leader valued predictability and consistency in delivery, and I was given a lot of trust from the start. It made me want to ensure that trust wasn’t lost. When delivering, delivery was rewarded, with full flexibility, which made me want to prove myself even more.
Of course sometimes things didn’t always meet expectations. There were moments when I was not provided support and guidance on the “why” of the delivery, leaving the “how” completely up to me. Being a young professional at the time, this was the perfect situation. I worked for a leader who understood me as a person and knew how to enable me to bring my best self. I went through a steep learning curve, which I am still grateful for.
When there was an opportunity to move into a new role, my leader was an advocate in the organization to ensure I landed in a good role. There was absolutely no incentive for my leader to advocate for me, but I appreciated that.
Act 3: The advocate
This leader was an amazing advocate. They were someone who understood how I operated as a person, and enabled me to get the best out of myself. They pushed me and made sure the company was aware of my capabilities and achievements. Someone who didn’t think in terms of company hierarchy, and was selfless.
Leader #2: The mentor
Act 1: Hired on referral
Leader 1 actually referred me to leader 2. Initially, I was a bit intimated by this new leader, though he would probably laugh about this if ever reading this one. The leader was direct and straight to the point.
Act 2: Be who you are and don’t be afraid to fail
This leader challenged me to take the next step in my career and lead a small team. It was scary for me at that time, and this leader made sure I felt comfortable, listening and coaching me, and allowing me to lead in my way.
I remember when I recruited my first hire, and I wondered if I was making the right choice. I was even challenged and asked why the person would be the ideal person.
I also remember when I made a colossal mistake (or well, that’s how it felt to me) and my leader calling me to ask what happened, and why I did what I did. Bottom line, all it took was for me to own the mistake and explain my thoughts on how to solve, and then solve it, with support from my leader. While solving it, my leader took the heat in the meantime. In the end, the problems were solved.
Act 3: The mentor
This leader was an amazing mentor. The leader managed to amplify my personal strengths and supported me in overcoming worries and doubts, of being a leader myself. This leader was easy to open up to and share thoughts and reasoning with, without getting judged. A leader who supported personal and professional growth, and didn’t blame me for mistakes made.
Leader #3: The understander
Act 1: It was a given
The leader was involved in my hiring process, while my team was located in a different geography, it wasn’t the main decision maker for my hire, at least that’s how I understood it — but I was directly reporting to this leader.
Act 2: The confidant
Initially, I was not sure what to think yet about this leader, but overtime I started appreciating this leader more and more. The leader wasn’t there on the forefront, yet always took time to listen and coach. Moreover, without saying things explicitly, the leader encouraged proactivity and getting things done mentality. Though I didn’t realize it back then, the leader always had me join initiatives, provided exposure and had the confidence in me to manage one of the most important initiatives at that time.
In addition, this leader had a great skill to figuratively put a mirror in front of me, for me to take a step back, rethink and move forward.
I probably haven’t given this leader enough credits if I think about it, and yes that is all on me.
Act 3: The change giver
This leader was a change giver. When earned trust, the leader would pay it back by providing more opportunities. The leader always looked how to best provide a new, exciting challenge. In addition, the leader understood very well how someone operates and didn’t shy away providing candid feedback, without judgement.
The leadership skills summary
So there you have it, three leaders who had a great influence on my professional career, what I learned from them and how it shaped my own leadership style.
To all my bosses, we were just not a professional match. To all my managers, thank you for the great work relationship delivering awesome results. To all my leaders and especially the 3 mentioned in this article, you had a great impact on me, and allowed me to excel whilst better understanding myself, and what drives me in my professional career. I thank you for that!
Signing-off
O yeah, almost forget, getting back to those books I was telling about at the beginning. Below my short list of favorite leadership books:
Special thanks to Tremis Skeete, Executive Editor at Product Coalition for the valuable input which contributed to the editing of this article.
