What I Wish I'd Known - Professionally
We are in our second and final week of looking at pieces of advice that I wish I would have known early in my life and career. This week, we are focusing on wisdom in professional careers. With more experience comes more knowledge, and there are many simple truths that could have greatly benefitted me at the start of my career if only I would have been told them.
People Are Important
This should be obvious, but it just is not to so many people. I was guilty early in my career of getting caught in the day to day hustle and bustle of my job that I forgot all about the people around me. However, once I learned to value the people on my team above all, I saw dramatic results in my leadership and in our team morale. Each person you work with has their own struggles and things that are weighing on them. Each person you work with has unique giftings and ways they can contribute to the team.
Take the time to get to know your team members–and I mean beyond the superficial. Make it a point to stop by their work space or send an email asking about things in their life. How was their child’s school play? Is their mom recovering from her bout with Covid okay? Is there anything you can pray for them about? Empathy goes a long way to building trust and camaraderie among a team. I heard it said that people will seldom remember what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.
Value people
Make it your goal that when you have conversations and discussions with others, when they are concluded, the other person feels that you care about them, listened to them, and left them in a better place than they were prior to the discussion. It is important to communicate in a way that leaves them feeling fulfilled rather than drained from interacting with you.
You will learn the most from your bad bosses. Learn everything you can about how not to be, and never forget how they made you feel, so you never treat people like that.
Pray with others at work when they are going through tough times, which opens the doors of opportunity to tell others about how Jesus has changed your life and brought you peace.
Servant Leadership is the Best Leadership
The American view of leadership usually goes something like this. The high powered CEO is sitting in his corner office firing off memos and directives while his employees scurry around like worker bees trying to keep up. He finishes all his orders, closes his briefcase, jumps in his double parked sports car, and goes to enjoy his game of golf while his employees make arrangements to stay late… again.
That may be a little extreme, but that is how a lot of people view leadership. Jesus viewed leadership a little differently. Leadership to Jesus looked like Him on his hands and knees, washing mud off his followers’ stinky, sweaty feet. When I began to make my leadership style look more like Jesus and less like that CEO, I found more fulfillment in my job, saw greater results and felt more camaraderie from my team.
A servant leader doesn’t ask their teams to do things they themselves wouldn’t do. If your team has to stay late, stay late with them. If things are falling behind, roll up your sleeves and get to work right alongside them. Try looking at your role as empowering them to be their best, not how you can squeeze the most out of them. People will give it their all when they know you truly care about them.
Balance is Imperative
Finding balance between your work life, home life, and spiritual life is important. There were times in my career where I worked so hard I nearly burned myself out. I missed precious time with my family and let my walk with Christ fall by the wayside. It took me a while to learn that I am a better leader when I have balance in my life. When I make space for my family, prioritize my quiet times and Bible study, and even plan time for my daily exercise and hobbies, I am better able to lead a team at work.
However it looks for you, set boundaries around your work. Maybe it’s leaving your phone in the other room while you have dinner with your family or setting an out of office reply on weekends - something I did throughout my career. Whatever it is, set those boundaries and stick to them! You’ll be better for it.
Anyone who has worked with me knows I take my work seriously. I try hard to give my best every day - something I believe God calls us to do. However, when I learned to value people, lead with a servant’s heart and find balance in my life, I was a better professional, colleague, friend, spouse, and father. I didn’t always get it right, and I still struggle at times. The earlier you can incorporate these lessons into your own work, the better off your career and relationships with others will be!