Words of Wisdom
- Jul 12, 2016
- 2 min read
An effective leader leads in every area of his or her life. I saw that demonstrated recently while talking with a seasoned executive who leads in a highly successful corporation.
While his strong and effective leadership is well known professionally, his personal leadership is what caught my attention. He shared that one of his sons recently graduated from college and started his first "real" job. He had sent his son a short email wishing him well. I asked if I could read his email, and with his permission, I am sharing his thoughts with you:
Hey [Son],
Good luck today at your new job. Starting anything new can be stressful but at the same time exciting.
You asked yesterday if we had any words of advice. You already know this, but here it is:
Start the day with a smile. Being nice is easy and it makes you approachable.
Be humble; remember, no matter how smart you are, everybody at your new job knows more about it than you do.
Be confident but not arrogant. One puts people at ease; the other puts people off.
Listen, ask questions. Care about what people are doing and saying.
Face to face communication is key. Save the texting, etc. for when a relationship has been established.
Work hard, do more than is expected. As a leader, it's easier to rein someone in than try to motivate them.
Have fun, don't take yourself too seriously and others will gravitate toward you.
Have a great First Day.
Love, Dad
What words of wisdom for all of us! Leading well begins with caring for our loved ones and investing in their lives. There is no doubt that with coaching like this from his Dad, this young man is poised to truly make a difference.
Dr. Larry Little, CEO
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