I was thinking this morning about my last boss and how he used to have a fascination of language and words. Words matter, the way you write matters. Language matters, he used to say. And he was right.
It got me thinking; of the lessons I have been lucky enough to learn from every boss I have ever had. Of course, most of the lessons have been learnt the hard way – but those lessons are often the ones that stay with you longest and most clearly.
Lessons Learnt
So here are my lessons learnt:
- If you are going to put your name to something, make sure you read it first and be prepared to be accountable for the contents.
- Don’t use paperclips.. Papers get lost that way.
- Sometimes you need to slow down to speed up.
- Talk less. Listen more.
- Don’t put up with bully boys.
- Sometimes you know you are making an impact by the disruption that is being caused. And it doesn’t always feel comfortable. In fact, it rarely feels comfortable.
- Keep your powder dry. Play with a straight bat.
- Sometimes you just need someone to believe in you and give you a chance.
- Tell the truth. Always.
- There’s almost always a way to get your point across.. Sometimes you need to just sit back, watch and understand the lay of the land first.
- Leadership matters. Truly.
- Be yourself. First and foremost.
What lessons have you learnt that have stayed with you throughout your career? And what made those particular lessons stick?
