Being a leader is difficult. All of us can use some help to become the best we can be. In my first post, I explain why I am establishing this community and the benefits of participating.
Over the years, as I progressed into each of my leadership positions, it was easy to see my shortcomings and opportunities for growth. Like many, I was promoted to manager for demonstrating desirable skills (I was a good technician and could communicate well) as well as the ability to help other team members complete their work. I was promoted to a leadership position for my willingness to make decisions and whatever potential my leader saw. But being highly competent in your chosen profession and willing to make decisions does not directly translate to success as a leader. Vision, strategy, planning, financial management, organization design, communication, team development, leading through change, and a myriad of other skills are required along with the soft skills that draw people to the most effective and admired leaders.
I needed support to be successful. I worked for large companies, so there was no lack of training opportunities. Those were helpful; there was always something I could take away and apply to my job as a leader. Some were immediately applicable, but most focused on shaping mindsets and behaviors. Each bit of training added something to my background, influencing my thinking and becoming a part of how I saw my work and career. Most were helpful, but few were truly invaluable. A training class, a couple self-directed online courses, and a few books each year helped me grow, but not in the holistic manner I needed, or my team needed.
I had mentors. Some good, some not so good. I watched other leaders, within and outside my companies. I sought support from my peers. I watched others in meetings, in front of an audience, and in interactions with partner organizations. I took the good I saw and incorporated it into my approach and threw away the rest.
It took a lot of effort, mostly because I had to piece things together. There wasn’t a comprehensive source where I could learn about vision, strategy, mindsets, behaviors, team development, etc. in a way that was relevant to my immediate work as well as to my career. I had to plow through books, training materials, online sources, and conversations to establish an approach I thought would work best. Sometimes I needed coaching and the self-discovery that offers. Other times I needed consultation and the directed recommendations that provides. Mostly, I needed practical advice I could act on.
My efforts led me to four conclusions:
- Too many materials are produced for the most senior leaders of a company, not those that lead at the level where work is performed daily.
- Leader behavior dominates the discussion landscape. While critically important, middle managers need help with so much more.
- Strategy books are written for corporate strategy teams and the most senior corporate leaders; they require other leaders to make the leap from that level to their own.
- Most resources do not appropriately emphasize the importance of emotional connections between leaders and associates and associates and the company.
I established this site as part of The Richardson Leadership Group to bridge these gaps, to help leaders two, three, and four levels below the c-suite. I want to make it easier for others to improve their leadership skills than it was for me. I hope to provide a venue for conversations across topics relevant to this population, and venture to form a community of leaders and aspiring leaders who will share their expertise, experiences, and advice to help each of us be better for our teams, our organizations, and ourselves. Over time we will address topics such as:
- Vision & Strategy
- Execution
- Leader behavior
- Interviewing
- Communications
- Team Development
- Mentoring
- Performance Management
- Career Progression
- People Leadership
- Leader Legacy
- wherever this community would like to focus
There is a never-ending list of demands on your time, a constant bombardment of requests and problems to solve. I am committed to making every minute you invest with us valuable by ensuring advice and conversations are relatable and actionable. We will make the conceptual real and the nebulous clear. We will make it easier to do your job today and to grow your skills for the future so you can win every position you desire. Please join the conversation. We can be better together.
What are you most interested in learning about? Click here to influence our discussion priorities.
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