Influencer in the Making
Influence is due to relationships and doing the right thing always. For me building influence was about being there for my teams and peers. As you show how you operate, for the good of the team or organization, your influence grows. For me, constantly evolving means continuous learning and building knowledge to share when appropriate with clients and colleagues. Our ability to influence, expand our businesses and ourselves has to do with what we can share through knowledge.
Beyond Barriers
My best learning
happened when I “failed” … failing isn’t so much failing but learning to try it
differently again. How we get back up, shake off the defeat and try again is
what truly matters. I started my coaching practice due to my role being
eliminated. I could’ve seen this as failure; however, I flipped the script and
saw the opportunity to do what I love and help people be their best.
Leadership and Learning
Yes, leaders have had
to evolve from direct/tell to ask/collaborate. Leaders can no longer lead with
directive, authoritarian and militant tactics. Great leaders know leadership is
about people, working together towards a common outcome as well as having both
emotional intelligence and intellectual intelligence to tackle strategies,
tactics and problems.
Guidance from my Mentor
I have been fortunate
to have wonderful mentors throughout my career who took me under their wings,
shared how they had succeeded and failed and had my back. There are too many to
name, however Scott, Kim and Nate really have a place in my heart. Our ability
to find mentors, ask for their mentorship and be a mentor matters. Mentors have
a huge influence in our careers and development. I believe we always have
leaders and individuals we look up to and want as mentors and there are people
looking up to us and want our mentorship. I believe we have to receive and give
mentoring.
Advice for the next-gen Leaders
Ask questions,
network, have 2 or more mentors and be open to new ideas. Our leadership will
evolve and change as our career advances. Be open to ‘rethinking’ what you know
and have the courage to be uncomfortable as you try new leadership skills.
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