Addressing questions is an important function for any leader. Often, this remains rather routine. On occasion, though, a question requires more than passing thought.
Consider how would you answer this question: What are three fresh, practical pieces of advice for someone who wants to succeed in a career, in leadership, and in life?
My son Scott challenged me with this inquiry while conducting research for a leadership class, his final course assignment before graduating from college. With less regard for his term paper and great regard for how my words might impact his soon-to-launch career, I paused before answering. While I appeared to gather my thoughts, I actually said a quick prayer for wisdom. Why can’t important life moments give advance notice?
Here’s what I said, as recorded by Scott:
“Own” what you do. Don’t just “do” what you do
Many people will work hard to do a great job, so that rarely sets a person apart. When someone “owns” a job, he or she engages with it at an entirely new level—many times, a level that completely surpasses coworkers. Owners operate at a different level.
Hard workers face challenges and embrace changes. Owners face challenges and, on their own initiative, seek alternatives—refusing to give up until a solution emerges. Hard workers set examples for all those around them. Owners work hard, but also find ways to help others do their best. They understand that blame—toward others or on themselves—wastes time and energy. Owners understand what to learn and what to forget, the importance of focusing only on what is truly important, as well as the value of steadfast optimism.
Leaders constantly look for individuals who display an ownership approach to their jobs regardless of position in the organization—because that indicates passion, the fuel for success.
Communicate well
Some believe that up to 90 percent of all challenges inside an organization would go away with solid communication. But teams don’t communicate; individuals do. So set a mandate for yourself to serve as the best communicator on the team, a realistic goal when following four simple rules:
- Communicate often. Frequent, deliberate communications ensure that everyone is on the same page and stays there.
- Anticipate communication. Strive to share information before people ask (and often before they even know what they need).
- Reliably communicate. Become dependable and trustworthy by offering complete information—in the receiver’s preferred channel or method.
- Brevity = Mastery. The fewer words, the stronger the message. People who know their stuff send strong messages.
Don’t pretend
Never pretend to be more than you are, and don’t falsely pretend to be less than you are—stay true to yourself. If you’re new, be okay with learning. If you’ve been around a while, don’t play the “I’m new” card. Admit to not knowing what you don’t know. Eventually the truth will catch up, and if one isn’t true to him or herself, it will be uncovered. The antidotes: (1) Learn to ask for help, advice, or input when needed, and (2) Offer help, advice, or input as you acquire wisdom from experience.
“Don’t pretend” also applies to the overall organization. A leader should never pretend that the organization is doing better than it really is, and conversely a leader does a dis-service when pretending the entity is doing worse than is true. Therefore, one must remain fluent with reality to communicate with authenticity. Trust develops when truth prevails.
Now I ask again, how would you answer this question: What are three fresh, practical pieces of advice for someone who wants to succeed in a career, in leadership, and in life?
David Staal, senior editor for Building Church Leaders and a mentor to a third grader, serves as president of Kids Hope USA. He also chairs the advisory board for a nearby college, and served ten years in leadership for a local church following a corporate career. David is the author of Show Up: step out of your story and into someone else’s (2016 release) Lessons Kids Need to Learn (Zondervan, 2012), and Words Kids Need to Hear (Zondervan, 2008).
Scott Staal is a 2016 graduate of Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, IN). A quarterback for the Crusaders football team, he earned the Laurel Award for the highest student-athlete GPA and was named to the Hampshire Honor Society. Following his wedding to Abbie in June, Scott will begin work as the Northwest Indiana Director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
©2016 David Staal
