5 Highlights from WQA's Mentor Program Panel Discussion

I had the privilege of serving on a panel for WQA's Mentor Program. Doug Ramer and I provided leadership responses to questions ranging from best leadership style to advice for transparently failing to guidance on getting out of your own way. The mentors and mentees added great content and context to our conversation.

I highlighted 5 takeaways from the panel conversation that serve as enrichment tools for new leaders and important reminders for legacy leaders.

1. Be clear about expectations for leaders. When asked, "What was the leadership style that your best manager had?" all agreed that being supportive, a good coach and listener, a role model for integrity, and most importantly, approachable were key attributes for effective leaders. While business growth performance, operational excellence, and cultural excellence are baseline expectations, these soft skills make or break being an effective leader.
2. Avoid micromanaging. The panel discussion emphasized that an unproductive hiccup observed in some leadership styles is micromanaging. Being a helicopter leader not only is a time suck for you, but those reporting to you. Avoid micromanagement, and allow folks to thrive in a well-defined, well-organized, and supportive environment.
3. Create a supportive culture. The guidance provided for being transparent in your own failings was supported by taking proactive actions to establish a feedback rich environment and set a standard expectation that the workplace is safe zone to acknowledge failures. At a minimum, set expectations for how others can best interact with you.
4. Empowering leaders has tangible benefits. The group explored benefits through empowerment. Specifically, I shared hard stats for improvement over the past year attributed directly to empowering staff reporting to me and encouraging them to empower those reporting to them: reduced number of meetings by 34%, reduced time in meetings by 50%, doubled my white space and strategic thinking time, and I reduced migraines by 90%.
5. Put your oxygen mask on before helping others. When asked, "What was the What was the hardest decision you had to make as a leader and what helped you find or determine the best course of action?

I coach many leaders and tell them that as you climb the ladder the decisions, questions, and everything you do increase in difficulty because all of the easy decisions are done before they get to you. Navigating and coaching on Crucial Conversations are key to being a great leader.

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I also offer that making the decision to put you and your first is the hardest decision ever and the pressure against it becomes heavier as you climb the ladder. Business folks are known for sacrificing to keep things going. Especially during COVID. This year I started to put on my oxygen mask first before helping others and I am a much stronger leader for it.??

WQA has two mentoring opportunities open to all members: 1) for mentees seeking to grow your network, perspective, and impact, and 2) for mentees to strengthen industry engagement & leadership. Learn more about WQA's Mentor Programs: https://wqa.org/get-involved/mentorship/