What Great Leaders Know

Tag: #What Great Leaders Know

  • Turning Disappointment into Career Insight: Learning from Loss

    Turning Disappointment into Career Insight: Learning from Loss

    Turning a loss into learning

    I believe in the axiom Every time a door closes a window opens.  Maria in The Sound Of Music is the first place I heard it.  There is some discussion about the source.

    Early in my career, I applied for a promotion. I had stellar qualifications and my performance put me head and shoulders above other candidates. I even got the first perfect score on the test to evaluate my readiness for the role. As a result, I expected to win the roll. But, I did not.  The job went to someone less skilled and qualified. So, I asked to speak with the VP of Human Resources responsible for making the selection and asked what happened. 

    What she told me made me very angry while setting the stage to turn disappointment into career insight!  

    You did not get the job because honesty is very important to you.  

    What?!

    I argued that honesty was part of our mission, honesty was a corporate value, honest is what we want our kids to be, we swear an oath when we testify to tell the truth! I made a very compelling argument.  She listed attentively and agreed with me, and surprised me by saying unfortunately, that’s not a part of our culture and I think you would find it frustrating to in a role working with people who don’t share you views on honesty being important.  You should find an organization that has the same mission and values as you.  I did not understand or agree. 

    Angered by the response, I quickly found the promotion with a competitor.  But, the conversation always bothered me, until years later I understood the valuable lesson about turning disappointment into career insight.  

    If your personal mission and values don’t align with your employer’s, it’s time to find a new employer.  Had I received the promotion I deserved, I would have been miserable and faced with fundamental daily conflict. Turning disappointment into insight lead to my career growth. In the long run I benefitted.

    She did me a favor by being honest telling me to go elsewhere. She cared about me as a person even though that meant losing me as a good employee.

    So, Thanks TK wherever you are!

    What Great Leaders Know

    1. Disappointment can result in career growth and turning disappointment into career insight is key.
    2. When your mission is at odds with your employer’s it’s time to find a new employer
    3. Leaders are honest and want what’s best for their people

    LINKS

    https://whatgreatleadersknow.com

    http://theproclaimedword.blogspot.com/2012/01/thats-not-in-bible-when-god-shuts-door.html#:~:text=in the Bible!-,”When God shuts a door, he opens a window”,from the love of Christ?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNmp5hZBmQ4

  • Team Members Who Love What They Do Excel 

    Team Members Who Love What They Do Excel 

    Do your team members work for you because they love the work?

    Or do they tolerate the work they will never love? This is a seldom investigated subject, but worth shedding some light on.   

    Great leaders hire people who love their work, team members who love what they do excel in their roles. When candidates say they don’t really want the job you are offering but want to get a foot in the door and transfer or their skills don’t match the skills required, look for other candidates.  

    You better like the work you do, because you are going to be doing it a lot.  

    The New England Patriots interview perspective players and try to, above all else, determine if they love football. Team members who love what they do excel. Not just playing in games, but all of the work that goes with it.  Pro football is highly competitive and very difficult.  Players endure pain, stress, long days, travel, meetings, practice, tryouts, weight lifting, nutrition all before they step on the field.  Players who love everything it means to prepare and play are more likely to perform when the going gets tough. 

    Other players don’t love the work (they may like it) and are willing to put up with the work to enjoy what comes with it- million dollar paychecks, excitement of game day, celebrity and notoriety.  For them, the reason to compete is not about the work.  

    Fill your roster with people for whom work is self-rewarding and they will contribute to high job satisfaction and high levels of performance. Team members who love what they do excel in achieving their goals.  Self-rewarded performers still need recognition but as the icing on the cake. The cake, of course, is the work. 

    What Great Leaders Know

    Great leaders hire people who love their work. 

    You better like the work you do, because you are going to be doing it a lot.   

    Fill your roster with people for whom work is self-rewarding and they will contribute to high job satisfaction and high levels of performance. Team members who love what they do excel.

    I have nothing but deep respect for employees working a job because it is their only option.  Doing a job to take care of your life responsibilities even though you do not enjoy it and would choose otherwise, is admirable.  There are people who don’t love their work, but show up every day and do it well. 

    LINKS

    https://whatgreatleadersknow.com/

    https://hbr.org/2022/04/marcus-buckingham-why-love-is-the-key-to-career-success