8 Courses That Have Changed the Way I Lead

Yesterday, I celebrated 8 years with Lynda (now LinkedIn Learning). What a fun journey it's been, with lots of growth along the way! My first day, I was wide-eyed when they came around collecting car keys in the lobby for at-work car washes (was I ever this young? yes!), and the tech company perks continued from there: smart colleagues, catered lunches, amazing agility, enriching cultural celebrations, and an incredible and ongoing investment in employees.

Work anniversaries always make me pause and reflect on what's changed, where I've grown, and what's still to come. My team started small, with just a few people, and now we're at nearly 20, and it's a team of leaders who have tremendous impact. We've 10x'd our course publishing to 650+ video courses shipping each year. It's been rewarding to invest in smart people as others have invested in me....and then see what amazing things we can accomplish together. You know that feeling of flow when you work with people who make you better? This is that! In fact, it's the great articles Stephanie Evans and Mordy Golding have been writing that inspired me to share today.

If these 8 years have taught me one thing, it's to be an adaptable leader in order to facilitate each person's best work--what they need, tailored to where they're at and how they respond. The Platinum Rule. Doing work and change with people, not to people. It's complex to do this well at scale, but fundamental to how I want to show up every day. And it applies across organizations and up the chain as well--adapting to different speeds or styles or types of asks keeps work challenging and engaging.

Fortunately, my team also publishes a lot of courses that feed my personal and leadership learning curve. Here are 8 that have really impacted my thinking, all ones you can watch during lunch. I’ve also highlighted a quick tip from each.

Ram Charan on Coaching High Potentials (27 m): Thinkers 50 expert and global CEO advisor Ram Charan shares how valuable high potentials are to the future of every organization and the best ways to engage them with meaningful growth. Quick tip: Make your feedback pointed, precise, and useful.

Developing Adaptability as a Manager with Dorie Clark (33 m): HBR contributor and Duke professor Dorie Clark shares tips on cultivating your adaptability and flexibility in order to unlock the potential of each person on your team. Quick tip: Ask each employee: How can I be a better manager for YOU?

High-Stakes Communication with Jenna Lange (1 h 8 m): Communication expert Jenna Lange inspires great executive presence in this course, which is full of tips on being concise and impactful when it counts. Quick tip: Execs always want people to get to the point faster, so practice giving the few sentences that accompany your slide rather than reading it to us.

The Mindful Workday with Desk Yogi (40 m): Dr. Britt Andreatta makes mindfulness accessible and relatable with tips on everything from commuting to setting up your desk surface and taking meaningful breaks. Quick tip: Set an intention for every meeting you go into. How do you want to show up and contribute?

Strategic Focus for Managers with Mike Figluiolo (31 m): thoughtLEADERS founder Mike Figliuolo emphasizes the importance of direction setting and prioritization to make sure you focus on top priorities for the business. Quick tip: Use socialized strategic filters to vet each project and possibility consistently.

Confronting Bias: Thriving Across Our Differences with Verna Myers (40 m): Netflix VP of Inclusion Strategy Verna Myers breaks down how important it is to lean in to diversity and overcome our unconscious bias. She also shares great tips on what to do if you get it wrong and want to make it right. Quick tip: If you say something that doesn't land quite right, lean in rather than walking away. Keep the conversation going to make things better.

Lessons in Enlightened Leadership with genConnect (56 m): Facebook VP Carolyn Everson shares practical tips on running a global team while also taking care of yourself and showing up authentically every day. Quick tip: Add a community service component to every offsite you do!

Recession-Proof Strategies by Jason Schenker (1 hour): Leading economist Jason Schenker has fresh tips for managing your career and staying indispensable in your market. Discover how to think seven moves ahead and invest in yourself with smart choices and learning. Quick tip: Always keep a list of 5-10 people who could give you a job if your circumstances change.

What's the key leadership lesson you've learned in the past few years? I want to learn from you; please share in the comments. And finally, a shout out to my amazing team at LinkedIn Learning--people who teach and inspire me every day! I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by people who are teaching, learning, and growing every day.