Be a Mentor, Find a Mentor
One of the most important lessons I've learned is the value of mentorship, both as a mentor and as someone seeking mentorship.
Being a Mentor: There is something incredibly rewarding about mentoring others. It provides an opportunity to help people grow, share knowledge, and offer guidance based on your own experiences. But more than that, it allows you to help others avoid the mistakes you made, guiding them to better decisions. In my own experience, I’ve found that mentoring brings a sense of purpose. It forces you to articulate your thoughts clearly, evaluate your own approaches, and reflect on your personal growth.
Finding a Mentor: No matter how experienced you are, everyone needs a mentor. A mentor serves as a trusted advisor, someone who can offer insight, feedback, and a fresh perspective. In my career, I’ve sought out mentors at each stage—people who have been through similar challenges, who can offer advice on what worked and what didn’t, and who can share wisdom that you wouldn’t find in a book. A mentor’s role is to help you see things from a different angle, to challenge your thinking, and to help you grow as a person and a leader.
If you don’t have a mentor, I encourage you to seek one out. Whether it’s someone in your organization, someone from your professional network, or even someone in a completely different field, having someone to guide you can be invaluable. Similarly, if you’re in a position where you have experience to share, make yourself available to those who need it.
Laugh
In the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of today’s workplace, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the stress of deadlines, expectations, and the complexity of our tasks. But one principle I’ve found to be essential is the power of laughter.
The Power of Humor: Laughter is more than just a way to lighten the mood; it’s a powerful tool for building relationships and reducing stress. When you can laugh with your colleagues, it creates a sense of camaraderie that is essential for a positive working environment. Shared laughter fosters connection, breaks down barriers, and can even make difficult conversations easier.
I’ve seen firsthand how humor can change the course of a meeting or conversation. In high-stakes situations, a well-timed joke or a light-hearted moment can break the tension and remind everyone that we are all human. It can also allow for more creativity and innovative thinking. Humor can help loosen the grip of stress, allowing us to approach problems with a clearer mind.
Moreover, laughter allows for better mental health. When we laugh, our bodies release endorphins, helping us feel better and reducing stress. Stress can cloud judgment and hamper decision-making, but when we take the time to laugh, it has an almost immediate calming effect.
Building Stronger Connections: Laughter also fosters stronger relationships. When you share a moment of humor, it creates a bond that is hard to replicate with anything else. These bonds make it easier to work together and collaborate, even in the toughest of times. When the pressure is on, knowing you can rely on your team to bring some levity to the situation can make all the difference.
Look at the Data
As a leader, one of the most important things you can do is to make decisions based on facts, not assumptions. While intuition plays a crucial role in decision-making, sometimes you need to take a step back and really analyze the data in front of you. This principle has been incredibly valuable throughout my career.
Data-Informed Decisions: It’s easy to get caught up in our instincts and gut feelings, but the power of data cannot be overstated. By looking at the numbers, trends, and patterns, you can gain insights that may not be immediately obvious. Whether it’s looking at sales figures, customer feedback, or performance metrics, data provides a concrete foundation on which to make informed decisions.
I’ve been in situations where I thought I knew the answer to a problem based on my own intuition, only to find that the data told a very different story. The beauty of data is that it often provides clarity. It can corroborate your instincts or challenge them, but either way, it gives you a more solid footing when making choices.
Using Data to Improve Processes: In many cases, looking at data can help you improve processes, spot inefficiencies, or uncover opportunities for growth. For example, tracking performance over time can help you identify which strategies are working and which aren’t. Similarly, gathering feedback from customers and employees allows you to spot trends and make adjustments.
Data doesn’t just inform your decisions; it empowers your team to make better decisions as well. When you involve your team in looking at the data, you encourage collaboration and open communication. It also ensures that everyone is on the same page and working toward the same goals.
Trusting Data, But Trusting People Too: It’s important to note that data should be used as a tool, not as the only factor in decision-making. People’s perspectives, experiences, and insights are invaluable. Sometimes data can’t capture the nuances of a situation, and that’s when human intuition and judgment come into play. The key is finding the right balance between using data and listening to people.
Conclusion
Over the course of my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with talented individuals in cities across the United States, each bringing their own unique perspectives to the table. The experiences I've had and the people I've worked with have helped me develop a deeper understanding of leadership and what it means to lead with integrity, empathy, and wisdom.
By focusing on mentorship, embracing laughter, and making data-driven decisions, I have been able to navigate the challenges that come with leadership while fostering a collaborative and positive work environment. These principles are not only crucial for career growth but also for personal development, and I believe that anyone can apply them to achieve greater success in their own leadership journey.