Leadership Lessons Remembered

From discussions and questions that are posted online, it’s clear that there is an unending quest to understand what makes a good leader. Although volumes have been written on the subject, new ones will continue to be written. Why? Because there are so many situations and variables that affect how good managers can be effective leaders, such as the needs of individuals on a team, the work, the environment, etc.

When I look back on my corporate career, here are the most memorable leadership lessons I learned from specific managers and mentors in my life:

Working for Eva, I learned to have a sense of urgency. If I didn’t, a verbal kick in the backside provided the needed motivation. I learned to do good work quickly under the pressure of deadlines.

From Terry, I got guidance without micromanagement. He would articulate his high level perspective on a project or task, and give me lots of room to figure out how to approach and accomplish it myself. He provided advice and resources, and cleared a path for me.

Joe told us how he expected us to operate as a team, and held us to that standard. He had little tolerance for those who were dishonest with or disrespectful of their peers. His personal and professional ethics earned my admiration.

Tim is a creative thinker that always had ideas for me when I was stuck on a problem. He gained my personal loyalty by being unfailingly supportive when I faced treatment for a serious illness.

Who were/are your career mentors, and what facet of leadership did you learn from them? Post a comment and share your experience. Maybe we’ll write our own volume on leadership