Jason Blackwell outlines the importance of flexible leadership, and it's about to get dynamic

"A key attribute of leadership, which I would apply to this new way of work, is flexibility." In You've Got This this week, Jason Blackwell of the Hatwell Group shares how his military experience helped informed his approach to building his company, new ways to approach the changing landscape of hybrid work, and his advice for those looking to grow their leadership skills. You can read his answers below, along with announcing our next guest, Founder of the Anti-Racism Fight Club? Doyin Richards.

Victoria: "Can you share with us how your military experiences and training informed your approach with building the Hatwell Group?"

Jason: "My military experience shaped me in ways that never would have occurred had I taken a business path alone.?You start learning about leadership on day one at the Naval College, compared to a corporate path, when typically, you get exposure to leadership training many years into your career.

You are thinking about leadership constantly in the military, but even more so after I went through commando training and joined an operational unit.?Leadership becomes critical to ensure you can get the job done.

I didn’t always get it right, and I make that crystal clear in my upcoming book, Battle to the Top.?I’m not one of those ex-military types who says, 'Do it like me.'?I learned the most about leadership when I got it wrong, and I tell the people I coach the same thing.

"It is so important to embrace the mistakes and embrace the things you get wrong. First, it shows you have the self-awareness to acknowledge them, and second, it’s all about learning and growing."?

This is a philosophy the military gets right. ?Mistakes are made all the time, but we learn from them, and you should do the same."

Victoria: "In a LinkedIn article you wrote from July 2021, you shared?5 key recommendations on how to sustain a hybrid workplace. As we continue to evolve and adjust around the pandemic and the Great Reshuffle, how would you expand on those recommendations?"

Jason: "Things are moving so fast, it was only late last year that we thought we were at the end of the Pandemic, and then Omicron turned up, and most people are back working remotely. A key attribute of leadership, which I would apply to this new way of work, is flexibility.?

That means having conversations with your team and listening to them, and I mean actually listening to them.?You might have your own opinion on the return to the office, but maybe you don’t have three kids at home and a 90-minute commute on a packed train with which to contend.

It’s not easy being flexible in how we think.?We approach most conversations with pre-conceived ideas, but we need to learn to park them and have an open mind.?If you listen to your team and show a deep level of empathy to their situation, it will pay off in droves down the line.?I know so many people who have walked away from places they have worked for several years because their manager won’t budge even an inch.

So, listen to what your team says, and don’t react instinctively. Take it away and fight your natural urge to reply immediately.?Have a conversation with someone neutral to get a different perspective, and only come back to your colleague when you have thought it through.

Sometimes you won’t give them what they want; that’s life.?But even in that conversation, with a massive dose of empathy, you will be able to explain your reasoning more clearly."

Victoria: "What recommendations would you have for others looking to build or grow their leadership skills?"

Jason: "We often don’t examine how the world sees us; I call it a ‘perception gap.’?We think the world sees us a certain way, but it can be very different from our idea and this difference demands some unpacking.

"My first recommendation is to do some self-reflection.? Write down what you think are your five key strengths. What makes you good at what you do??What has got you to this point in your career??And then write the counterbalance to those strengths.?You have probably heard the counterbalance comments in your annual reviews, but what have you done about them?"

Maybe you are good at being accurate, and that is certainly a key strength, but perhaps it takes you a while to get a report out? Maybe you push people to get what you need as you’re all about action, but does this come across as rude?

So do some self-reflection, and then don’t be afraid of asking a couple of people you trust if they agree with your comments.?It’s a simple way of picking up key things to work on in the coming months."

Follow Jason on LinkedIn.

__________________________________________________________________________

Next week's guest:?Doyin Richards

I'm looking forward to our next guest, author, speaker, and Founder of the Anti-Racism Fight Club?Doyin Richards. Keeping in mind his work as a speaker, consultant, and workshop facilitator, here's what I'll be asking Doyin:

• Can you tell us about your career journey?
• As HARIC (Head Anti-Racist In Charge) for the Anti-Racism Fight Club?, you've led workshops for thousands of people, from students to senior executives. What are some of the key principles you hope participants take away from the experience?
• What advice would you have for those who want to become more impactful speakers or presenters?

Have a question of your own for Doyin? Join in the comments below, and thank you for being a part of You've Got This.