"Peerspective": Lessons from Leaders around us

Sitting through a staff meeting recently and listening to my team driving our tech strategy forward got me thinking about how we have started the year fresh and strong-spirited, determined to deliver on our promise to our company and community. In such moments, I reflect on how I can grow in my role as their leader. I’ve come to realize that my legacy as a leader won’t be nearly as tied to metrics as it is to the culture I’m able to inspire. So, as part of my annual recalibration of non-negotiables, I believe fine-tuning my leadership approach is crucial to achieving that growth goal.?

Most of us are born leaders. We’re all products of learned experiences; some from our life lessons and others from leaders around us. Jotted down some meaningful learnings from my workplace in the hope that it might resonate with my LinkedIn community or remind you of similar qualities that help refine your approach too.

Learning to Consistently Value Every Role

At Union Pacific, one consistent and significant lesson I’ve seen is through the lens of our CEO, Jim Vena . His pride in the company goes beyond just our brand name; it extends to the daily work and the frontline employees who drive our success. His first-hand experience serving on the frontlines as a railroader helps with a leadership framework that is driven by deep appreciation for the collective effort as well as individual recognition and dedication that underpin our achievements. This inspires all of us leaders in the company to spend time in the field, closest to the people performing the work, and bring back insights that influence critical decisions every day.

The Power of Decisiveness

Being in the same room as other leaders, you see them making swift decisions, but it’s the blend of decisiveness balanced with thoughtful consideration that leads to truly impactful decisions. I often collaborate with Eric Gehringer , EVP Operations at Union Pacific, whose ocean of knowledge about the railroad is often seen in his decision-making process. A good leader is driven by a great mix of data, instincts, and trust in their team to deliver decisions that propel success in various ways. And defining those various ways of success means being aware of the output and different outcomes.

Eric has been personally involved as a business partner gathering facts about our progress, and stakeholder recommendations through every collaborative project. This significantly improved the decision making and thereby time to market. Witnessing his ability to synthesize viewpoints and arrive at decisions with precision and agility is a common quality driving success with good leaders.

Embracing the Art of the Possible

Perhaps one of the most tangible lessons from being around my current executive team is the power of asking a single question: “what’s possible?” If there’s a single thread that ties us all, it is constantly challenging the status quo, encouraging innovative thinking and pushing boundaries. Kenny Rocker , EVP Marketing & Sales at Union Pacific, exemplifies this sentiment often. From categorizing challenges and opportunities in the current market, to always being the person in the room who starts the conversation with ‘anything is possible’, he challenges his teams daily to be creative in the way they approach the future of customer service. I believe that strength as a leader takes one a long way, especially in building innovative thinking cultures in teams.

Cultivating a Winning Mentality

Great leaders expect to win – that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Jim's competitive nature and tenacity to win instills a relentless pursuit of excellence in the people around him. An unwavering drive to make the company number one is not just inspiring; it’s contagious. Working in an environment where the hunger for success is ever-present emphasizes the value of perseverance. That winning mentality has also become a cornerstone of our culture, pushing us to always strive for the best scenario with agility to respond to any variable that comes our way.

Any one of these lessons would be a great addition to a leader’s toolkit. I’m fortunate to work and engage with such inspiring leaders daily. They’re actively helping me fine-tune my approach and set the right goals for our teams to drive meaningful impact. What often helps me is defining what these qualities mean to my leadership approach, and I believe that’s often the missing piece for evolving our own leadership styles. If you’re on a journey to enhance your leadership, I encourage you to not waste a single opportunity to learn from others in the room each step of the way. There’s often no need to reinvent the wheel, rather, utilize qualities of those who have already paved a way to harness that power effectively.?