Breakout Story of the Year
I’ve had some really great (sometimes lucky) opportunities in my career so far but none as standout as the time my manager at the time, entrusted me; just a few years out of business school, a green manager, just newly promoted as a leader for the first time, to hire a team from scratch of Salesforce admins.
At the time, it was not daunting. I knew Salesforce so surely I could pick and hire good salesforce admins. When I look back on that time I realize how I knew very little and had the privilege of hiring and managing some exceptional humans
I ended up hiring 6 employees. Within a year 2 of those employees were promoted into higher roles at the company. A year after that, two more were promoted. One of the greatest achievements as a leader is to give your employees the opportunities to grow, help them succeed and move into roles that support their personal and career growth.
I got this from a leader when I started my journey at McKesson from a contract role – I always remember this. Its not always easy to change and grow but its where your life begins.
Questions to Have on Hand
I cant say that all of these are from my own creative mind but I have gathered them over the years and express my gratitude to all those who have asked them before me.
- What keeps you up at night?
- What is your leadership brand?
- What is your brand?
- Why do you do what you do?
- What is one moment in your career that has changed you?
Leadership Brand
I want to touch on one of the questions above. ”What is your leadership brand.” Throughout my career I have been asked this a lot and have seen many leaders talk about this. It is important but for a different reason than you might first think.
This is one of the questions I got asked as that newly green manager from a senior leader at McKesson. I remember everything about that moment. I was presenting my plan for hiring this new team, the culture, the strategy and how we were going to provide benefit.
We were a virtual team and its just us and before we got started he mutes the line, looks over at me and asks ”So whats your leadership brand?”.
I had absolutely no idea – I hadnt thought about it.
All those readings in college about inspirational, transformational, servant leadership and the list goes on. I didnt have an answer. I was honest and told him I didnt know. He told me with a very calm and curious look that I should figure it out. It was an honest and important exchange and yes I did start to work out ”my brand” but the real lesson – be curious about others and yourself. Seek to learn and help yourself and others understand themselves more completely. That is the leadership brand I want to have.