9 Leadership Lessons Learned in 9 Years
By: Jana Sharp, Founder & Principal
This month marks Sharp Insight’s 9th year in business. In recognition of this milestone, I’m sharing 9 leadership lessons that I've learned over the years as Sharp Insight’s founder and principal. My hope is that these lessons will support you in your own journey as leaders of your organizations, departments, and teams.
1. Your team is your most important asset.
Any leader that isn’t running a one-person shop knows that people matter above all else. In fact, your organization’s success fundamentally relies on your effectiveness in hiring, training, and nurturing your team members. They are the building blocks of your work culture and your most trusted allies and ambassadors. And as you likely know, every personality can make (or break) your team’s positivity, connection, and effectiveness. Even when your own work gets busy, and deadlines are tight, perhaps especially in these moments, I encourage you to find ways to recognize and reward your employees, find opportunities for them to grow, and always show them appreciation and respect.
2. There are times to step up and (many more) times to step back.
Many leaders are in their positions because they’ve “stepped up” time and again. That skill is so important when it comes to setting a course (vision, mission, goals) or establishing expectations, but it can also get in your team’s way. Just as importantly, if not more so, is knowing when to take a step (or two!) back so that your team members have their own opportunities to grow, lead, and thrive in their roles.
3. Hard conversations will remain hard… and essential.
If hard conversations were easy, they’d be called something else. (And if they start to feel too easy, you may want to reflect a little on your people skills!) But while giving and receiving direct and sincere feedback is hard, not doing so ends up being much harder over time. So, take the time to clarify what you need to say, prepare yourself to listen actively, learn and support, and then dive in.
4. It’s worth the wait for your “right fit” partners.
There is a *lot* of good work to do in the world, and a lot of people with the skills to do it! Keeping that perspective can give you the strength to hold off until you find an organizational partner that really “fits.” In other words, don’t sign that contract until you are sure that your organizational partner, client, or consultant is aligned with your team in values, approach, and expectations. And then trust yourself to move forward when you know it feels right!
5. Agendas make meetings better.
There’s nothing worse than a 90-minute meeting that accomplishes nothing! And it’s certainly no way to show your colleagues that you value their time. Given that many of us are in multiple meetings each week, let’s improve our work lives one meeting at a time! Thoughtful agendas lead to discussions full of connection, clarity, and action. You and your team deserve that!
6. Celebrating success is a valuable motivator for you and your team.
As program evaluators, we are constantly evaluating and assessing everything in a (well-intentioned) effort to make them better; however, not taking the time to celebrate milestones and accomplishments along the way can be detrimental to a team’s energy level and morale. It is essential to recognize achievements big and small, highlight the employees or teams that made them happen, and connect those “wins” to ultimately advancing your organization’s longer-term goals. Make a conscious effort to celebrate successes – doing so will uplift both you and your team!
7. It’s not the mistake that matters, but the response to it.
It’s impossible to run a business without making mistakes – and sometimes multiple mistakes in one week! But most mistakes can be fixed. What’s harder to fix is a botched response to a mistake, either as the one who made it or the one who responded to it. Quickly and fully owning up to mistakes goes a long way to earning trust, as does a compassionate, supportive response when things go awry for a colleague.
8. “Self-care” may be an annoying term, but it really isn’t selfish.
Despite a strong aversion some may feel to hearing cliché terms like “self-care” or “me time,” the concept holds true – we need to first care for ourselves so that we can then be in the best position to take care of others. Whether that’s exercise, therapy, time with friends, or just time away from a computer screen, do what you need to do to recharge so you can be at your best at work.
9. It’s all a choice.
Sometimes we forget that it’s all a choice – where we work, what we do, how much effort we devote, and who we are when we’re with colleagues. And when you find a work setting where you can thrive, hold on to that and recognize that it is not only a choice, but a privilege.