Last week someone who is retiring from my company sent an email to all the employees - and this email really impressed me. She said that many people had asked her about highlights of her 39 year career, and also about any regrets, and about 'pearls of wisdom'. The brave ones asked about mistakes she had made. Then she pauses, and said if you are no interested in her comments, thank you for being a part of this great organization. However, if you are interested, read on. I read on.
I'm going to quote her here: In the muck and mire of everyday life, we don't always take the opportunity to pause and realize how noble our work is and the impact we have on people at their most vulnerable and often scary time. ....... For those that are still with me, I'll leave you with a few words that I hope will encourage your soul. (here I am changing a few words, and adding others.)
Raise your hand. Be willing to take on an assignment that you aren't convinced you're prepared to do..... Not being the smartest person with the most content knowledge in the room is not a bad thing. Learn early to assemble teams of people around you that have what you don't.
Own your own career. No one will care about it as much as you will. People are willing to help you achieve your goals but I've yet to meet a mind reader. Be courageous and ask for help. Find someone you admire and do things (1) tell them why you admire them (assume that nobody ever gets enough acknowledgement) and (2) ask them to tell you their story. Find someone in a role that intrigues you. Ask them for feedback about your preparation for the role. I'm confident you won't be disappointed. People want to help.
Do a great job in the role you are in right now. Don't worry too much about the next title you desire. I believe there's a very good chance that the job you may one day have doesn't even exist today. Deliver results. Become invaluable through your performance and leadership. Perfect your ability to tell your own story. If this doesn't come easy, ask somebody that has this gift.
Practice vulnerability. It's not fun to work for a perfect person. Perfect people don't need the input of others. Admit when you've made a mistake. Call a spade a spade. Ask for forgiveness and move on. Not only is this a big load off you, you will teach others that it is ok to not be perfect. Transparency is a gift we can give to those around us. Everybody then leans in to bring their imperfect selves to the table.
Lead from whatever chair you hold. Many of us long to sit in a certain chair, with a certain title, maybe even on a certain floor. Consider the possibility of building your leadership effectiveness wherever you sit today. It will be noticed. People will want to follow you and your journey will unfold as desired. Being patient with yourself is not in conflict with being ambitious.
That is all I'm sharing today - and will finish it up tomorrow. Good stuff, huh. It made me sit back and think as I began to read through these. I hope you also will begin to think of your value and where you want to go in life.
Blessings!
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