2020 - Life, Lessons and Leadership

Recently a former colleague and I reflected on 2020. He went down a path of sharing how challenging the year was and how in many aspects it was the worst he's experienced in some time. I acknowledged experiencing many of the challenges he shared and at the same time thought to offer him some perspective.

I shared that in so many ways 2020 has been the best year of my life, both on a personal and professional level. I continued to share how both work and life always feel like a roller coaster ride and 2020 was really no different than past years in that regard. For example, there's excitement, anxiety, fear, etc. but also the feeling of being unable to wait to get on the ride again. Without question, 2020 had all of those attributes and many more, but for my family and I, 2020 has been the best year we've had in a while. I asked him to indulge me while I explained.

First as a family, we slowed down and enjoyed the most precious thing we have, each other. We did things we haven't done in a while. Puzzles, board games, had movie night, etc. Also very neat that I have not missed a single event for my kids. For instance, I was able to attend my older son's graduation and confirmation. I also saw my youngest son win a 2nd place trophy in his fall baseball season. Given a traditional travel schedule, I likely would have missed one or two of those events. One of the most rewarding parts of the year was having my oldest child, my daughter, asking me to spend time together versus the alternative approach which was me asking her for time and her feeling obligated because I am dad. Then there's my wife. She was promoted this year and I've had a front row seat to watch her grow professionally all the while making sure everything at home was in order.

On a professional level, this has also been a very rewarding year. This year enforced how much I value relationships. I concede I do miss the human to human interaction with colleagues, friends and customers, but the current posture has me more aware than ever that you have to work hard to maintain these relationships you value. As I thought about the reasons why 2020 has been a fantastic year for me professionally, I quickly acknowledged I work for an exceptional company. A company where our number one asset is prioritized, that is our people.

2020 has taught us something I learned from umpiring which is to always follow the ball. When it is in play, you must first pause, next read and finally react. Pausing is an essential first action because our instincts are often telling us to react. Pausing allows for us to take a moment to read the situation. It is only then when you fully understand the situation that you have in front of you then you can react to it. Translating this to leadership, the key takeaway 2020 reminded me of is after you paused to understand the situation, the next step (reading), translates to how you show empathy. Never pretend to understand what others are coping with but always show them you care.

2020 also reminded us about the importance of agility. This year brought a different set of rules which required a different playbook. Plays ordinarily which would never be run, are being run now. To that end, empathy allows you to humanize the really hard calls. The ones you know might be unpopular and even impactful on people. These calls in particular do weigh on me because of how they affect people, but as more than a few former veterans and current service people reminded me a leader must show commitment and courage. These are essential if you are going to drive the outcomes your company and customers need.

Back to the exceptional company concept for a moment. I've read more than a few articles on never underestimating the significance of working for a good leader. Much the same should be said for not underestimating the significance of working for an exceptional company. I would submit you may not be able to fully understand this unless you've worked for a company that is less than exceptional. Working for a company that not only supports your personal values but fuels them allows you to focus every bit of your energy on positive outcomes. I often refer to this as moving the needle for the company and our customers. It is something I strive for most and recognize it requires calibration and for us to be at our very best more often than not.

In order to be at your very best, you must be investing in yourself, and the things you value most. To illustrate this, years ago I interviewed at Amazon for a role. I didn't get the job, and it was a disappointment initially. That aside, through every disappointment is an opportunity to learn and this was no different here. One thing the experience taught me was I had to start with me. I had to define who I am, what I stand for, and ultimately prioritize what is important to me. That process led me to finding an environment where those things that matter most to me were supported and fostered. That also meant being uncompromising on my pursuit of the right environment. One which aligned to my beliefs and values. In the end, I found I was more excited to work for Amazon because of name brand recognition it would provide to my resume. I also concluded the company was not calibrated with those things I had prioritized. That part of my journey is what led me to where I am today and why navigating 2020 has been easier and not totally overwhelming.

Last thoughts on 2020 and what I have learned. As a reminder, life is a journey and not a destination. Times and circumstances will dictate you call an audible from time to time. Identify when it's appropriate to compromise and accept good enough, but also know when you should be unwavering. This is different for each of us. For me, it's mostly about never compromising on my principles. It also means that while I push myself and my team in our pursuit of perfection, I understand of course that perfection is a lofty goal, one we're not likely to achieve but along the way, we're certain to encounter excellence and that's good enough for me.

To that end, I get out of bed each day energized for how I can bring my best to support my colleagues in the delivery of differentiated outcomes to our customers. If you are getting out of bed more often than not wondering if the value you bring isn't making a difference, or maybe not being noticed, don't assume you are working for a less than exceptional company. Instead my advice is for you to seek time with your leader to discuss your feelings. This is a concept my wife taught me many years ago. If there's something about your work, life or both which you don't like, change it. I was reminded of this by a former colleague recently who did just that. He changed things in his personal life which caused him stress. At the same time, he left the company which saddened me but I understood his reasons. @Chris, thank you for reminding me how important it is to be committed to something and also for showing the courage to make the hard calls.