We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems. - John W. Gardner
Posts Tagged ‘experiences’
Opportunities, Problems, Creativity, Appearance, Courage, and Tolerance
June 2nd, 2009
Through the Looking Glass
September 17th, 2008When I blog, I am very careful to generalize situations or experiences to ensure they are not tied to a named person, company, or time frame since many of my experiences are not unique to me. A lot of times I write to capture life lessons I’ve learned, most often the hard way.
Lao Tzu wrote “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” How people take in or process what I write is how they choose to take it in. If you project yourself or someone else into my blog postings that is your choice.
Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. What I write here doesn’t necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone other than myself, and sometimes not even me.
Nothing is exactly as it seems, nor is it otherwise. – Alan Watts
Think on thy sins. - William Shakespeare
Things I Learned Working for Great Managers, Part 1
September 8th, 2008I will always be very appreciative of the many things I learned from working for great managers.
These experiences changed my life in small and large ways which keep alive inside me the hope I will have an opportunity to work for at least a few more - and sooner rather than later.
I’ve written several different drafts on this topic which I never posted because I’ve been been able to capture everything I learned, but then I realized the most important things I learned working for great managers is to never stop learning, listening, or improving – or, life really is about the Parts 2, 3, 4, etc…
So - what I learned working for great managers, part 1:
- Lead by example and persuasion, not through intimidation or fear;
- Celebrate success - a little acknowledgment and appreciation goes a long way;
- Select people based on talent and abilities, not because they are Mini-Me versions of yourself;
- Hire people smarter than yourself, then trust them to do the job you hired them to do;
- Be available when you’re needed or wanted; and in the background if you’re not;
- Ask great questions, then take the time to really listen to the respones;
- Encourage curiousity and reasonable risk taking;
- Are genuine, candid, truthful and consistent;
- Trust their team;
- Are great coaches, teachers and mentors;
- Set achievable goals which still require me to lean forward toward to achieve success.
Jeff, Rich, Matt, Michelle, and WHT II … thank you.
”If you have some respect for people as they are, you can be more effective in helping them to become better than they are.” –John W. Gardner
