Leadership and life lessons come at each of us on a daily basis – whether we are choosing to look for them or not. Even with the merriment of joy of the holidays – these lessons do not cease to exist. In fact, I think they come out as three-fold as they do any other time of the year. Possibly it is just having the time to sit back and reflect, but more likely it is the increased opportunities to meet and gather with friends and loved ones that provide an opportunity to better understand ourselves and the way people interact.
What I learned this Holiday season will impact me throughout the year:
- It is all about people. The more people whom you value and trust that can be incorporated into any situation, the better. More ideas, more collaboration and better results. How many times have you been at a Holiday party when gifts are being opened and said to yourself, “I wish I would have thought of that.” The truth is you could have thought of that if you would have had a conversation that person ahead of time. That situation happens daily in education and business and more often than not. Great ideas (or at least ideas better than yours) exist within your group of colleagues and confidants. It is your job to start the conversation in a manner which people are free to share those ideas and that cause group synergy. Successful leaders value their colleagues' opinions and give value to their ideas. Successful leaders are leaders of successful people.
- Nothing happens in a vacuum. Everything has a trickle-down effect during the holidays. If you ask one aunt to cook your favorite dish and do not request anything in particular from Aunt Betty, then Betty may well be scorned. If you know your nephew really wanted an expensive gift and you give it, then his parents – or even Santa Claus – may feel one-upped. In both cases intentions were pure, outcomes defined, and the product was as desired, but not without ramifications. Simple decisions that all leaders make every day have the same type of impact, just in organizations that are not as openly petty as our families tend to be. Nothing happens in a vacuum – be aware of all possible consequences of your words and actions.
- Importance of leadership and establishing roles. Have you ever been to a disaster of a family party? I think that we all have. The awkward moments that exist because no leader has been established, nor roles for the rest of the family members. Do you remember how uncomfortable it is when the first merged-family (both sets of parents of a married couple) event took place? Who gets primary kitchen counter space? Who gets to carve the turkey? Who gets the remote control? When waffling on a decision or taking no action within your organization – remember that awkward feeling that existed at that first get together and step up to be that leader. In most cases everybody wants to do a good job and for the rest of the partygoers to enjoy the product (much like in your organization), they simply needed a little guidance. Leaders often forget about the paramount importance of establishing roles and norms in their organization – reflect upon the unnecessary stress at family gatherings to remind you of the importance of this process.
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