Every time I start coaching someone, I interview 8-12 of their colleagues to gain good perspective on their real-world strengths and development areas. Over the last 10 years, I’ve collected thousands, and recently analyzed them to look for common themes. Here’s what you need to know:
They fell into four themes
52 of them appeared over and over, in one form or another
Think of it as kind of a tried-and-tested “menu” — behaviors and skills you should consider working on and developing, to learn, work, and lead others in better and stronger ways. Here they are in detail:
Theme 1: Execute and Deliver
- Choose—Pick and communicate a handful of things needed to achieve results, and actively manage out distractions. Apply 80/20 rule
- Structure—Build and evolve the organization, its structures, systems, administrative, and other frameworks for agility and leanness
- Deploy—Recruit, assign, and retain capable people who care deeply
- Empower—Delegate excellently, offering full context and giving the leeway/authority for the “how”
- Ask/listen—Manage transmit/receive ratio. Seek out and listen to people at all levels, fostering candor needed for speed of execution and delivery. Learn all areas to right level of detail
- Assess—Analyze, think critically, use data, on-the-ground truth, opinions, intuition, experience, technical and functional knowledge to understand the situation fully and clearly
- Fix—Ongoing change without delay consistently low-performing and off-track strategies, tactics, plans, work streams, people, organizations, customers, suppliers, etc.
- Be time-smart—Use time wisely – takes things at the right pace for the right reasons. Use yet do not overuse urgency
- Decide—Make and communicate decisions without delay
- Protect—Manage risk in balance with innovation
- Respond—(rather than react) to the unexpected/what’s upsetting
- Distribute solving—Guide all to solve problems on their own
- Involve—“Manage in the middle:” Get involved in the right details at the right levels for the right reasons. Be consistent about this
- Deliver on the promise—Consistently does what says. Is reliable, delivers results on-time, on-budget, as promised. Is results-oriented.
- Drive—Works hard, work ethic, high self-motivation without serious imbalance (for self, or caused to others)
- Capable—Applies ones’ talent, smarts, knowledge and experience (and common sense) well. Knows own limits and adjusts accordingly
- Operate prudently—Track and spend resources wisely, neither to excess nor with over-reluctance. Balance earning with spending wisely
Theme 2: Lead and Engage
- Spread the individual ownership mindset—Model and guide all to think and act as owners 24/7. Frame: “What would I/you do if I/you owned the place?”
- Map vision—Choose, evolve, and communicate a simple and inspiring vision, strategy and roadmap
- Inspire—Engage people by sharing the personal “why” behind your vision. Avoid doing things that disengage/demotivate others
- Follow through—Keep commitments consistently
- Challenge—Be sharp-edged or tough when needed, in the right forum, sparingly, without delay. Don’t avoid critical conversations
- Foster accountability—Preview and apply consequences fairly, both positive and otherwise, without undue delay. Recognize wins
- Be true—Act with integrity, ethics, and courageous authenticity. Know and work in sync with values, core purpose
- Disrupt—Be a change agent when/as needed / challenge the process or status quo. Balance when to ask for permission versus seek forgiveness after taking a risk. Be bold
- Evolve—Seek & respond to feedback on self, people, and org. Self-observe, try new ways, learn. Grow fulfillment and balance. Develop / broaden capabilities as a leader and executive
- Build capabilities—Invest in, be candid with, coach, sponsor, mentor, and develop team, teamwork, and hire/identify successor(s)
- Play—Create a place for fun, humor, work-as-constructive-play
- Impact—Care for own, org’s impact on lives, society and the planet
- Balance—Find and mind a healthy balance between work and life outside of work, and model/support that among for others
Theme 3: Connect with others
- Emphasize relationships—Make knowing the people on ones’ team, colleagues, customers, competitors, future talent/candidates, and community a priority on par with delivering results
- Relate—Assess and build interpersonal EQ. Seek and know others’ goals, hopes, and challenges, and share same with them. Show care, concern, and empathy for others
- Trust and build trust—Be honest and straightforward with others. Develop and grant trust and respect. Fix trust issues timely – “make it right.”
- Own—Avoid blaming others. Take responsibility (fosters trust)
- Resolve—Fix / resolve conflicts with colleagues, and among them, proactively and promptly, and/or find then maintain a level of appropriately productive tension
- Network—Identify, invest in, and evolve networks with others both internally and externally
- Receive—Ask and listen versus direct or tell
- Collaborate—Work effectively with others toward own (and shared) goals. Make reasonable offers to and requests from others. Request and offer help in balance. Seek consensus where appropriate. Show others reciprocity
- Communicate—Speak and write well. Be kind, candid, reachable and responsive in timely ways. Match well audience with communication method and message. Know when to stay silent
- Be at ease—Be approachable, comfortable to talk to, and mindful of your impact on others. Attract, rather than repel, ideas. Avoid angry outbursts, loss of composure
- Fit in or change culture—Operate within org norms, or influence to change them
- Build a brand and narrative—Develop a known “brand” / signature that’s distinctive and authentic
Theme 4: Influence
- Read the room—Assess unspoken and obvious needs of others in real time, and tailor communication accordingly
- Be confident—Be calm and inspire calm in others. Know ones’ value is 100% no matter who else is in the room. Avoid self-doubt or self-criticism. Avoid scripting / over-reliance on visual aids
- Show savvy—Know when to inquire, assert, and stay silent. Keep track of ones’ impact on others, adjust accordingly
- Be bold—Show one can participate in big picture(s) outside of immediate wheel house with compelling ideas and insights
- Be polished—Have a polished presence: Dress a level up, within org norms. Grooming and appearance consistent with culture
- Develop gravitas—Be a strong voice that’s right-sized in terms of ego (dash of swagger) and NOT arrogant. Welcome opportunities to discuss opinions / ideas. Listen to others
- Simplify—Be a clarifying/simplifying force among others
- WIIFY—Find “what’s in it for you” avoid “I win / You lose”
- Count the chips—Manage the give and take of influence
- Champion—Make the case compellingly at the right time to the right audience
Originally published on Huffington Post