Leadership in Action: More Than Just Words

In the world of leadership, where words often fill boardrooms, there's a special kind of leader who goes beyond just talking.?

Have you ever met a leader whose actions speak louder than their words? Someone who doesn't just give orders but works alongside the team? These leaders are rare and precious, and their impact goes beyond the usual bounds of leadership.

In this newsletter, I'm conveying a few of the strategies I've gained from these leaders I've had the privilege of working with and hold in high esteem.

1. Harnessing the potential of Vision: Leaders are like vision architects. They create stories that inspire teams to achieve great things. During my tenure at Meta, I got the opportunity to work under the leadership of Lonny Orona who instructed the team to undertake initiatives aimed at recovering X% of full-time equivalent (FTE) time. A vision of streamlining and automating work processes to give them some time back to focus on strategic efforts that drive the organization toward excellence.
2. Leading by Example: Leaders who lead by example inspire trust and confidence among their teams. Their actions resonate far more than words, creating a tangible connection between expectations and actual behavior. I am fortunate to collaborate with an outstanding leader, Sury Balasubramanian , who exemplifies this approach. A versatile leader, he seamlessly wears multiple hats for the success of the program. Working with Sury on various initiatives at Google and Meta has been a continuous learning journey, and I truly admire his leadership.
3. Empowering Teams to Innovate: Leaders who prioritize empowering their teams to innovate recognize the collective intelligence and creativity within their workforce. A notable example is Jason Mennig , with whom I've collaborated for over 8 years. From him, I've gained the insight that empowerment goes beyond resource provision; it involves establishing a secure space for experimentation, where calculated risks are tolerated and encouraged.
4. Celebrating Progress, Acknowledging Effort: Leaders who actively celebrate progress understand that each step forward, regardless of size, contributes to the overall success of the team and organization. A prime exemplar of this leadership style is Leslie Reed , who consistently empowered and motivated the team throughout the launch of the Google R12 project. Given the project's critical nature and stringent timelines for upgrading the Google financial system, Leslie advocates that progress is a journey, and each forward step is a reason for celebration.

In summary, a leader who practices what they preach is an authentic force in leadership. Their actions speak louder than words, fostering trust, accountability, and a commitment to excellence within the team. By embodying the values they advocate, they create a positive and successful work environment.