Continuous Transformation – Lessons Learned

This is the seventh and last in a series of blog posts covering Continuous Transformation. It is also my last entry as a Microsoft employee, though I will continue to blog going forward, so feel free to follow me here at LinkedIn. I have added links to the previous blog posts in this series at the end of this one.

I want to thank all my friends and colleagues who’ve helped me over the last 26+ years on this incredible journey. THANK YOU ALL!

I wanted to complete this conversation with thoughts about my own learning on how to thrive in a working environment that has been continuously transforming for the last 26+ years. In the last blog I discussed the importance of creating an operating framework to help your team through the ongoing changes that are inevitable in any work environment (and in life!). This final one is about the personal things to consider in your journey. 

I was recently the commencement speaker at a high school near my home here in Montana… with a graduating class of eleven seniors. Describing work - and life - as a journey, I gave them my advice on what they should considering packing in their ‘virtual suitcase’. Hopefully, you’ll find this ‘Top 10’ list valuable as well as you consider your journey in an environment of continuous transformation.

Hope - Hope is good, and we all need some of it especially in today's world. Hope is a form of optimism and having a "glass half full" attitude sets you up for success in many situations. However, I have a friend, and previous manager, who often reminded us that "hope is not a strategy". So, whenever you catch yourself saying "I hope…xyz happens", remember to follow that hope up with a practical plan on what you will do to achieve that goal.

Work Ethic - I tell kids, "nothing in life is free". In a dynamic, fast changing world, don't ask others to do what you are not willing to do yourself. Be the first in and the last out when it is required.  Do the extra work to enhance your skills or learning; take the time to continue your education and to stay informed.  Be there to ‘grind’ with your team when grinding is required. Hard work matters more than your degree, your IQ, or your network of ‘who you know’.

Self-Awareness - As your work environment is transforming, you'll need to adapt as well. Pay attention to signals that trigger your own feelings. For example, what do managers do that you would replicate if you were in charge, and what would you not do? What roles or tasks get you fired up and make you feel good, and which ones drive you nuts?  Pay attention to what motivates you, what you do well, and to where you need help or to grow. Be willing to surround yourself with people that complement your areas for growth rather than just people who resemble you. This will be uncomfortable at times, but much more valuable for you, and for the team.

Integrity - I always liked this definition of integrity: "doing the right thing when no one is looking". The people who you work with and for, your customers, your partners, your competitors, will all change over time. As those relationships ebb and flow, people will not always remember what you said and did – but they are much more likely to remember how you acted, and how you treated them and their company. Your integrity is one of the few things over which you have complete control. So always operate with your colleagues, customers, partners, and competitors in a way that they will recognize as the highest integrity. That does not mean you will always agree with them, but you and they should know that you worked with them in the most honest and open possible way regardless of the outcome.

How & Why - In the blog post on Culture, I outlined the three phases of our culture at Microsoft - “What”, “How” and “Why” - and a bit of my own journey in adding “how” to my approach. Based on my experience I would suggest trying to add the "how" and the "why" into your approach as early in your career as you can. If you're purely a “what” person with a reputation for getting sh** done, you need to round yourself out to be an effective team member or leader. People will remember you for the how and why skills that you demonstrate, as well as what you got done. And, if you are a "how" or "why" person, than work to add the "what" earlier in your career, it's helpful to be all three.

Empathy - There is no substitute for being able to put yourself in the shoes of a co-worker, a partner, or a customer. Sympathy allows you to feel happy or sad for someone based upon their situation… but empathy is much more powerful because you understand why that person/partner/customer feels the way they do. Make time in your schedule to really listen. Work in areas that are not in your comfort zone but can help you learn and develop empathy, to broaden your work and life experiences as much as you can. When you can empathize with the people you work with, work for, or who work for you, they will feel more supported and value their interactions with you more highly.

Humility- While your parents and family may love hearing how great you are, your colleagues may not appreciate it quite as much. Add some humility to your self-confidence and you will have a great recipe for working well with others. The old phrase "you have two ears and one mouth, use them in that proportion" reminds me to find balance in my approach when working within my team or across teams. 

Decisions - The further you go in your business career, and the more dynamic your work environment, the more often you’ll be faced with questions that don’t have a "right answer" for any given scenario. These decisions just need to be made, balancing many factors and trade-offs. Every great leader is a great decision-maker. The reverse is also true.

Fundamentals - Whatever your role or assignment, build out solid fundamentals before trying to scale. This may be based upon your own knowledge of an area, it may come from creating an operating framework for your team, or you may need to seek expertise. That said, going too fast toward scale always means more clean-up you will have to do later if the fundamentals are not in place. When people ask me how to be successful in their job, my first recommendation is to do the thing you are signed up for and do it well before doing a bunch of extracurricular work.

Smile – Since your career is a journey of continuous transformation, enjoy the ride and let others enjoy it with you. It might be obvious but happy people are more fun to hang out with!! :) Build a great team and create an environment where people can have a good time together while doing the work – especially when the work is hard.

These ten pieces of advice are straightforward. But honestly, I have spent my whole career trying to put them into place, and I'm still working on them.  After thirty years of focus I also have a simplified version which I see as my purpose: "Lead by Example, with Empathy and Intensity". How would you describe your purpose in a single sentence?

If you want any additional information or help with these ideas around Continuous Transformation or Leading at Scale, feel free to reach out to me.

Thanks Greg, Sean, and Orville for the help with this series of blogs, and thanks to everyone who took to the time to read any or all of them. 

Cheers – Guggs

Here are the other 6 blog posts in this series…in theory to be read in order before this one ??

• https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/continuous-transformation-introduction-steven-guggenheimer/
• https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/continuous-transformation-technology-steven-guggenheimer/
• https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/continuous-transformation-scale-part-operations-steven-guggenheimer/
• https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/continuous-transformation-scale-part-b-leadership-guggenheimer/
• https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/continuous-transformation-culture-steven-guggenheimer/
• https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/continuous-transformation-change-constant-steven-guggenheimer/