Losing the best leader I’ve had today, so sharing a few lessons she taught me (not an exhaustive list). 9 lessons for 9 months:
1 - Always. Choose. People.
When you act to stand up for your values and for other people, everything else falls into place. It’s really as simple as caring about people.
When you act to stand up for your values and for other people, everything else falls into place. It’s really as simple as caring about people.
2 - Understand people.
Get to know your team as humans and co-workers – what are their hobbies, how was their weekend, what are they good at, what do they enjoy doing, what do they hate, how do they need/like to be supported. The best leaders adapt to their teams.
Get to know your team as humans and co-workers – what are their hobbies, how was their weekend, what are they good at, what do they enjoy doing, what do they hate, how do they need/like to be supported. The best leaders adapt to their teams.
3 - Be #inclusive.
It’s not hard to build a #diverse team with different strengths and backgrounds if you try. Take their advice and allow them to be themselves at work.
It’s not hard to build a #diverse team with different strengths and backgrounds if you try. Take their advice and allow them to be themselves at work.
4 - Add value.
Figure out what you know that someone else doesn’t, and give advice with the lens of what value you can add. Hint: it’s not moving that comma.
Figure out what you know that someone else doesn’t, and give advice with the lens of what value you can add. Hint: it’s not moving that comma.
5 - Collaborate.
Set up opportunities for collaboration to show it's expected. Set team goals to help a team collaborate more and effectively on the same outcomes.
Set up opportunities for collaboration to show it's expected. Set team goals to help a team collaborate more and effectively on the same outcomes.
6 - Work out loud.
Very little at work is confidential, except personal HR things. Working in the open helps build trust through transparency and helps the team deliver better by engaging diverse perspectives.
Very little at work is confidential, except personal HR things. Working in the open helps build trust through transparency and helps the team deliver better by engaging diverse perspectives.
7 - Ask how to help.
Always ask your team “how can I help?”. Sometimes the best way to help your team is to pitch in. Sometimes it's moving out of the way, helping reset expectations, helping get buy-in, or something else to unblock your team or move work forward.
Always ask your team “how can I help?”. Sometimes the best way to help your team is to pitch in. Sometimes it's moving out of the way, helping reset expectations, helping get buy-in, or something else to unblock your team or move work forward.
8 - Show the change.
Driving culture change is hard, but consistently showing up as an ally, leading by example, and showing how new ways of working can be more effective will shift culture.
Driving culture change is hard, but consistently showing up as an ally, leading by example, and showing how new ways of working can be more effective will shift culture.
9 - Have fun!
Make time and create mechanisms for the team to be social and laugh together, and gamify silly work.
Boss and I wrote and got a briefing note approved in 26 minutes and had fun doing it. Work can be fun!
Make time and create mechanisms for the team to be social and laugh together, and gamify silly work.
Boss and I wrote and got a briefing note approved in 26 minutes and had fun doing it. Work can be fun!
10 - Bonus: On Snark
me: I'll miss you.
boss: It's the snark, isn't it?
me: *realizes it is"
Sometimes authenticity/honesty show up as snark. Let people release the snark, then be productive. Life isn't all sunshine and rainbows, so don't expect people to be #ToxicPositivity
me: I'll miss you.
boss: It's the snark, isn't it?
me: *realizes it is"
Sometimes authenticity/honesty show up as snark. Let people release the snark, then be productive. Life isn't all sunshine and rainbows, so don't expect people to be #ToxicPositivity
I'll always treasure this experience because I was able to see strong leadership in action, including all the little ways it shows up. I know she's changed how I lead already. #ServantLeadership
This is another superpower of #WOC in #leadership: she doesn't look like me, but she showed me what it's like to be a values-driven leader in #gov #DigitalGov
/end
/end
For those asking, this is about @gerchua. All the credit goes to her. I've only listed 9 of the 1000s of things she taught me, and so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from her again 💜
(Link back to the top of the thread:)
(Link back to the top of the thread:)
https://twitter.com/shahzmasays/status/1438930697234927627?s=19
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