4 Leadership Lessons that can be applied to you

I recently participated in an executive development program.

Here are some takeaways that are worth sharing and can be applied by anyone. Every person will have their own take, so it is always important to individualise to your personal circumstance.

1.      Define your Core Values

Every company has core values. A good company models itself on its values.

Similarly, as an individual and leader, you need to consider what your personal core values are.

I realised, during the development exercise what I thought my core values were not. The program allowed me I to distill and crystallise these. When you are tested, it brings a certain clarity.

For my core values I landed on Integrity, Respect, and Impact.

For me integrity is my currency. Its saying what you do, and doing what you say, being a trusted advisor.

Respect is something that is given but also received, it needs to be reciprocal to work. Treat people with respect and the way you want to be treated. If you regularly come late to meetings, don’t respond to emails, or don’t treat people with courtesy, it is unlikely that you will be respected. 

And finally impact, for me that’s making a positive difference. However, this cannot be executed without integrity and respect.

2.      Being fully present in a virtual environment

Something I am being more conscious of, in a virtual world, with a camera constantly on, its difficult to look focused all the time, or sometimes most of the time. More so virtually than face-to-face, it takes more energy. You are always being watched!

We all know direct eye contact is a vital way to reinforce your point. In a video conference, this means looking into the video camera, not at the faces on the screen.

So I’ve realised that you need to be in the right mental state of mind to be focused virtually. To use an analogy before a sporting game many will do stretching to warm the muscles to help with flexibility but also avoid injury. Similarly for virtual meetings which require focus, its good to take a break, space your meetings, and think how you prepare yourself before that camera switches on.

3.      Doing when unseen

Many people would have seen this behaviour. People trying to bring their best and perform to their values, only when seen, or in the presence of a more senior person in the room. In a virtual environment this is when the camera is always on.

Much of our work and what we do is when it’s not seen. How you treat others; living the values in your spare time (not work time) eg volunteering, community work; your core values should relate to you not only in the work environment, but also outside the work environment.

4.      Meaningfully Challenge – Ask why? And why not?

When working in a team environment, its important to meaningfully challenge. Sometimes we may put that aside for harmony, and not to disrupt the balance – but its important to always ask why? And why not?

Robert Kennedy once said “There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?”

Those workplaces that let ideas flourish, norms be challenged, encourage people to speak up – or as some would put it as a courageous communicator, are the places that are more likely to adapt to change and succeed.