Which leader in your life made a difference for you in your career?
I can think of several throughout my career, although they may not have even known it. They didn’t see what they did or said as anything special. To them, they were just doing their job and what they thought was right for me. If I had to narrow it down, I would say there were 5 key things that they did for me:
- Stretched me out of my comfort zone and pushed me to take on high profile projects to gain exposure and visibility
- Had complete belief in me (even when I didn’t have it)
- Publicly talked about what I had done and stood up for me in private conversations with leadership when needed
- Made it safe for me to make mistakes that taught me so much
- Set a great example as a leader and shared advice when I asked for it
Some of the leaders were my managers and others were my supporters. I can see now that they were my teachers and what they did made such a difference for me. I have stayed in touch with many of them and they have now become great advisors, friends, and mentors for me. If any of the leaders that I worked with or for are reading this article, please know that I am so grateful for all of the things that you did to help me grow and develop! You could see my potential even when I didn’t have enough confidence or belief in myself yet.
Whether you are leading a team or mentoring someone, you have gifts that you can share.
Sometimes all they need to hear is that you believe that they can do something bigger than they have before and that you can see their potential.
What are the five things that leaders in your career did for you and how are you paying it forward to others? Please share in the comments!