If I remember anything from the previous organisations that I've worked for, it would be the amazing advice "collected" from the best leaders I met along the way. And I would be truly selfish to not share these words of wisdom because they made an impact on my life and career - for the better.
“Yes” gets you farther than “No” - by CB
It’s true. According to CB, a high ranking FMCG professional, saying yes opens you up to more opportunities. He said, “The guys who say yes, the guys who are willing to do more are the ones that go far in their career. A yes can really open doors for you”. In a world where ‘Tai Chi’ is a diversion skill used to escape responsibility, accountability and extra work, being the person that says yes not only brands you as a team player but also as an employee who adds value to the business. It can mean more work, but it also means more learning opportunities. I still remember working on a project involving a big customer where PR support was needed. There was absolutely not enough lead time to hire a PR agency and the show still had to go on. So I did everything from strategic counsel and ideation to implementation and evaluations. The result? The project was so successful that the same customer came back asking for an exclusive partnership stating that they really appreciated what a great partner we were.
SS was an inspirational leader to have. Have you ever had a boss so charismatic and wise that you wish you could be like him? SS is one of them and I was lucky to have had the opportunity to work with him. SS said to me that you should always be unique and the best in what you do. So, it’s good think out of the box (I’m sure you’ve heard this a million times) and focus on few initiatives that gives the business the biggest impact. It’s all about aligning your resources to support the idea or effort that will bring the most benefit. SS taught me that doing a lot doesn’t necessarily mean doing well. Think of few powerful punches rather than many insignificant small pinches. This is especially important for projects with minimal budgets.
Be aware of how others view you - by EK
Have you ever exploded at a colleague, not delivered a project or complained about everything every time? My ex-boss, EK, taught me that the biggest mistake we can make at work is to put our emotions before our professionalism. I really do admire how EK does it. When not in the right frame of mind, she would take a pause before sending out an e-mail or even responding face-to-face. Do know that our reputation depends not only on our quality of work but also our quality of interactions with colleagues, bosses, clients, agencies and more. I still remember hearing a conversation about whether an ex-colleague of mine was “fit” to be a leader despite the years this person has poured into the company. And they were not talking about aptitude but attitude. And attitude is not just limited to behaving well, but behaving like you are truly part of the family. Align yourself to the company values and live them. At Mondelēz International, the 7 values really help guide employees in their “hows”: Inspire trust, Keep it simple, Be open and inclusive, Act like owner, Lead from the head and heart, Tell it like it is and Discuss. Decide. Deliver. What are your company values? Can you identify your own values in them?
Be positive - by RZRS
The last thing you want do is to bring the team’s energy down. Being positive is important as it shows how optimistic you are. My ex-boss, RZRS, once told me that it is essential to showcase that you have tried. Instead of saying things like “oh, I don’t think we should do that because it sounds too difficult” or “it’s never been done before, so it won’t work”, give your team or boss the options and paint to them how different the achievements or results can be depending on different methods. It’s also worth looking at previous efforts to see what the challenges were and how you can improve it moving forward. You can say things like “That didn’t work previously because…perhaps this way we can make it happen”. Don’t sound like a quitter from the start unless you can prove why certain things are not worth exploring at all.
Never leave badly - KC
