High potentials and recently promoted managers need training. So classrooms are filled and coffees are ordered as you help them learn the ways of work. But what else is happening?
Throughout the week, they’re watching everything you do. They see every meeting you arrive at a few minutes late; every e-mail you send after dinner or on the weekend; every project or task you take on that should have been delegated.
Leaders should ask themselves three questions, answer them today, and update their answers every quarter for a year:
1. What do I want to be known for? Not the “ Big L-Legacy” question, the everyday, project-by-project “ brand” you want to be known for. Open your calendar to next quarter, choose a project you’re leading, and ask, “What do I want to be known for?”
2. Who can I learn from? When you model learning, you demonstrate that it’s OK to not know, to ask for help, to keep getting better. Set an appointment with a coach or a mentor, and share w hat you learn from them with your team .
3. What positive things are happening that I can acknowledge? Everyone wants to know they’re contributing to the organization’s mission. Answer this question every three months, and you’ll start to notice more and more things are on course.