January 3 and everything that stopped - all the silence and quiet and peace (sort of) you felt the last 2 weeks is quickly disappearing. In my life, chaos slowly replaces peace at the beginning of the year. To me, the ramp up can be slow but then it takes off again. Work resumes slowly when NYE happens in the middle of the week. Then, the pace quickens again - despite your best efforts to slow things down. Fortunately, the last week of December / first week of January provided us with lots of great examples for our career in 2020.
You probably think this post is about career resolutions. Nope. Do you need a career resolution? A career goal or 2? Not really. Because it is hard to achieve a resolution or a goal without a PLAN. Instead of a resolution, what you need in 2020 is a career PLAN. If you need a plan, follow my new monthly podcast/post on how to manage your career and compensation in 2020. Each month I will provide you with details about what you should be doing (EACH MONTH) regarding your career. I will even include discussion topics you should be having with your manager. You can't just manage your career in December. You can't just approach your manager in December with your list of contributions and expect to get a great raise or bonus. Career management is 24/7/365. I will help you get where you want to go.
The first post is here! Check out what you should be doing in January to manage your career (and promotions and raises or bonuses or other compensation).
Until you are ready to dive in with 2 feet, take this first Friday to sip some coffee and learn just by observing (thank you Yogi).
Here's this week top 3 Career-Maker's to help get ready for 2020...
1. All leaders apologize - even the Pope
Earlier this week, a woman was so excited to see the Pope she grabbed for him...maybe a little too strongly. The Pope brushed her off - maybe a little too harshly. But instead of blaming her, he accepted full responsibility, explaining: “Many times we lose our patience. I do, too, and I’m sorry for yesterday’s bad example."
He turned his bad example into a GREAT example. We all make mistakes. Even executives, CEO's, COO's, Board members and other "leaders". The important less - we are ALL leaders in some way. There is always someone watching. You may not have a "leadership" position but you can still act like a leader (great way to get promoted too).
And when you do make a mistake - be a leader and APOLOGIZE. Apologizing doesn't show weakness. It shows strength. It reinforces a collaborative culture where mistakes are ok as long as employees are learning from them and everyone keeps trying. If you don't, you will create the opposite culture - one that is competitive, filled with fear and runs high performing employees away.
2. Knowing when it is time to leave a role/company/position is difficult - just ask Carrie Underwood
12 years! That is how long Carrie Underwood has hosted the CMA's - 10 of those with Brad Paisley. She tweeted: “It’s hard to imagine topping what we have accomplished together," Underwood revealed. "So I’ve decided that it’s time to pass the hosting torch (at least for now!) to others that will cherish it and honor it as much as I do.”
Did she really stop because she doesn't think she can do more with the role? Maybe. Or maybe she is tired. Or maybe she wants to try something else. The point is she quite while she was on top and she did it in a classy way.
Knowing when it is time to move on isn't easy. Ask yourself - is there more you can do in this role? Are you still feeling challenged? Are you still excited to come to work everyday? Are you at risk of becoming complacent? With a little reflection, you can decide if it is time to move on too.
3. David Stern - a former NBA Commissioner - passed away at 77. His support for Magic Johnson shows us how to embrace challenges, rather than run from them
Being NBA Commissioner isn't an easy role. When David Stern was commissioner, there were courtside brawls, guns brought into the locker room and a referee who was gambling on the game. His biggest "leadership" moment came when Magin Johnson revealed he has HIV/AIDS. David didn't shun Magic.
He did the opposite.
He led by example - a pioneer for supporting people who could otherwise have been discarded by society. Stern explained: “It confirmed to me the power of sports to educate and to change people’s minds on issues,” Stern told amfAR. “It was a huge, huge opportunity, and I think that Magic, with a little help from us, changed the debate on AIDS in this country and possibly around the world."
What we can learn? He set the stage for diversity and inclusion in a totally different way - as it related to health issues. Don't be afraid of someone who is different - embrace them. They can impact you, your business and your industry in ways you never dreamed.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Leadership isn't easy:
1. Good leaders make mistakes. GREAT leaders own up to them.
2. Knowing when to leave is a key leadership skill - and critical to staying on top
3. Sometimes true leaders emerge when faced with challenges or by making difficult, public decisions.
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