How can I be intentional about my growth as a leader?

How can I be intentional about my growth as a leader?

This is a question I've asked myself throughout my career, and "Lead to Win" by Carla Harris touched on three particularly helpful topics that I deeply resonate with:

1. Being an impactful leader is not just about one's title or tenure but rather how they grow and positively impact others
2. Effective leaders must know who they are and must be authentic in order to build trust and attract similarly authentic team members
3. Influential leaders surround themselves with people who can support and challenge them and are open to new perspectives and experiences

Being an impactful leader is not just about one's title or tenure but rather how they grow and positively impact others

Early on in my career at 摩根士丹利 I volunteered for the role of Firm Captain for SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity) , a nonprofit that provides access and opportunities for Black, Latinx, and Native American students within corporate America.

Despite being a recent college graduate, I was able to make a meaningful contribution to the company's core values of giving back and promoting diversity and inclusion. By serving others, I also developed valuable relationships, including with Carla Harris, a Vice Chairman at Morgan Stanley and a member of the Board of Trustees for SEO.

Through this leadership role that I had raised my hand for, I practiced essential skills such as communication, multi-tasking, delegating, and coaching, which helped me to develop my professional toolkit. My primary responsibility was working with a cohort of 30+ SEO interns, ensuring that they successfully navigated their summer internship and received a full-time offer.

Being able to tangibly measure the impact I had on the interns each year was a powerful reminder that I could play a leadership role regardless of my tenure. This mindset has stayed with me throughout my career, and I have continued to seek out opportunities to develop my leadership skills and make a positive impact on those around me.

Throughout my career, when I have found myself in seats that didn’t afford me the ability to test and stretch my leadership capabilities, I have turned to volunteering as a way to fuel my own growth while also supporting others. In many of these instances, I have been able to find volunteer initiatives within my company that allowed me to simultaneously build my internal network, develop myself as a leader, and have a positive impact on others.

Everybody has the ability to build leadership skills and experiences no matter where they are in their career.

Effective leaders must know who they are and must embrace authenticity to build trust and attract similarly authentic team members

With how rapidly the world is changing, it can be easy to lose sight of what matters most to you and why. Effective leaders operate with greater intentionality that is powered by a deep understanding of who they are.

During my time at 美国哈佛商学院 , I had the opportunity to co-create a course called Crafting Your LIFE, which launched Fall of 2019. Having interviewed over 120 HBS alumni for this project, I discovered that intentionality and authenticity were going to be two of my most important tools for building a fulfilling life.

To put my learnings into action, I created a LIFE Map that I now look at daily. It is a one-page document that reminds me of all the things that are important to me, both personally and professionally. By being intentional about how I spend my time and what I value, I am better equipped to stay true to myself and lead from an authentic place.

As Carla Harris emphasizes in Lead to Win, authenticity is crucial in building trust with your team. But before you can be authentic, you must first know who you are. By taking the time to craft a LIFE Map or engaging in other intentional practices, leaders can build a foundation of self-awareness and authenticity, which will fuel their success as a leader.

Influential leaders surround themselves with people who can support and challenge them and are open to new perspectives and experiences

"Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher."

This quote from Oprah Winfrey illuminates the importance of being intentional about who I surround myself with both personally and professionally. While directly reporting to Carla, I was able to experience firsthand the impact of being in the presence of an authentic leader who uplifts her team. Having this experience so early in my career was certainly a luxury, as it allowed me to think bigger about the impact I could have with my career and life.

Recognizing the impact that Carla has had on me makes me want to have the same impact on other people. To amplify that impact, last year I decided to invest in formal coach training with the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership (IECL) to take my communication and leadership to the next level.

Being regularly challenged is one of the greatest and most unique benefits of coaching as it forces one to think differently and embrace new perspectives and experiences. A leader must have a great coach in their circle to ensure they're being challenged and unlocking their full potential as they work towards becoming the best version of themselves.

Conclusion?

Intentional growth as a leader requires a deep understanding of oneself, which prepares one to positively impact their team and organization.

Carla's three books have been invaluable to me at different stages of my career. "Expect to Win" gave me a strong roadmap to start my career. "Strategize to Win" helped me to be more intentional when considering which experiences would be the most effective use of my time. And most recently, "Lead to Win" has given me valuable perspectives on how to take my leadership skills to the next level.

Beyond reading Carla's words in these pages, I often encourage current and aspiring leaders to put her pearls of wisdom into practice by intentionally seeking out opportunities where they can lead, whether directly connected to their work or through a volunteer activity.

Furthermore, I encourage people to develop practices such as creating a LIFE Map or having regular conversations with a coach in order to continue growing as a leader.

After finishing a book, I like to engage with others who have also read it. If you are interested in sharing your thoughts about “Lead to Win," I would love to hear from you in the comments below, or feel free to send me a message directly.

I am always on the lookout for my next book, so if you have any recommendations on a great read related to intentionality and leadership, please let me know!?

#Intentionality #Leadership #Career #ProfessionalDevelopment

Related resources

• Carla Harris Website
• Article - Developing clarity on what you want to achieve in your career and life
• Video - Developing your personal mission statement