Magic Marker

July 29, 2024

Dear Leaders,

Making your mark and leaving your mark as a leader has long advanced from the days of a wax seal on parchment.? Much in the same way, leaving your marker or taking one is not so much a note for a gambling debt as it is for promising to return a favor or service. ?While leaders serve from a sense of duty and for the joy of service, there comes a time for reasonable expectation of something in return, and knowing when and how to use that marker is the mark of wisdom.

I always looked at serving others as a duty more than an expectation of quid pro quo.? Nonetheless, I had a reputation for doing more than was asked, even volunteering help when I saw a need.? As my federal government agency team had some of the best analysts in the business, and our headquarters had many new hires with no field experience, my team came to me saying that they wanted to help the headquarters analysts in understanding what they were doing and formatting their data runs and reports to reduce error rates and improve the quality.? I coordinated with the headquarters leadership, and they expressed sincere gratitude.

As time went on, the need continued, and they asked for a specific analyst to help them.? I allowed her to work part time for them with the caveat to their leadership that they owed me one, to which they agreed.? She was remarkably successful in helping them through their challenges and much of what she and our team designed became the national standard.

A few months later, new leadership arrived at headquarters with not only a lack of understanding of how we all worked together for a common goal, but also on how it was in the best interest of my team to have full access to their data.? In restricting access, they not only hindered my operations, but also their own.? Attempts to resolve the situation failed, and I was left with no choice but to pick up the phone and call someone in higher authority.? As we were both founders of the directorate, we had a long relationship of mutual aid and trust, and she was well aware of the support my team provided, so when I said I was calling their marker, it didn’t require further explanation.? Within the hour, I received a contrite message from my intransigent colleague restoring the status quo.? Wanting to avoid further acrimony, I thanked him for his assistance and renewed our commitment to work together, and as time went on, we had fewer issues between us.

Leaders establish themselves and set themselves apart from others by reputation built on knowledge, wisdom, and the ability to make things happen.? Having built such a reputation, I was able to develop the connections needed through trust, mutual respect, and a genuine desire to work together for a common purpose.? In readily providing assistance, our team developed a formidable reputation and the appreciation for aiding others did not go unnoticed.? Because we had our own missions to support, the time came when I had to limit aid to others, but knowing when you need to sacrifice is also a part of leadership.?

Making your mark by going above and beyond in all facets of your mission and your leadership builds a reputation that becomes impervious to the problems caused by those who don’t share your view of the big picture.? In making that mark and establishing the connections of trust and respect, you don’t do it to leave a marker or promissory, and in most cases, you don’t have to ask for one, but when the time comes, use it to your advantage not at the expense of someone else, but for the mutual benefit of all.? ?

Sincerely,

Tim