The Rising Leader: Own Your Success

The Rising Leader: Own Your Success

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Throughout the series of The Rising Leader, our focus has often centered on self-improvement and its direct influence on shaping team dynamics. While this perspective remains invaluable, let's shift the spotlight for today's edition to a more individual-based audience – leaders who shoulder the weight of programs, project ownership, process innovation, and content creation.

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Directly to the main point, don't hesitate to claim credit for your accomplishments. My continuous recommendation to new leaders has been to confidently announce or clarify the specific areas that they owned. For newer leaders it is important to note, sharing your achievements is not arrogance, it's a recognition of your dedication. As someone who's had the opportunity of observing the growth of managers on my own team, I genuinely appreciate this approach.

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I'll share an experience of a learning and development expert, Eric, who embodied this philosophy while maintaining a professional humility.?Eric found himself part of a company that was creating an internal training division from scratch and he was asked to lead this massive undertaking. This was Eric's first time of leading a program through the planning, creation, and facilitation stages. After a successful first few months, he was invited to the company-wide conference to discuss the program that was built.?

Here were a few important takeaways from that event that magnificently showcased his ownership.?

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• Harness the Use of "I"?- When sharing what you have independently built or your innovations, speak with precision and pride. By using the first-person key word of "I", you pair your accomplishments directly to your initiative.

• Leave Your Mark?- Claim authorship. This is very important for new leaders, make sure to associate your work with your name. This can be literal, by putting your name on your material, as well as knowing what you built better than anyone else.?

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• Storytelling with Real-Life Scenarios?- Case studies and the ability of storytelling are both extremely effective here. Sharing the experiences that others have specifically had is a best-selling tactic for ownership. It presents a tangible impact of your work.

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By meticulously including the above in his discussion, Eric crafted his identity as the leader of the program's creation and maintenance. His willingness to step in front of the audience and confidently acknowledging his contributions, cultivated a profound sense of trust among his peers and collaborators.

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Wrapping Up

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As we conclude, let's hit on two crucial clarifications stemming from the approach discussed above.?

Though Eric worked alone, collaboration often is part of most larger project achievements. When you find yourself partnering on a shared project, remember to ensure each contributor receives the rightful credit. This should lead to the inclusive use of "We" instead of "I" above.?Acknowledging the collective efforts and contributions adds to a culture of unity and reinforces your role as a collaborative leader.

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Finally, in Eric's scenario, he authentically knew all the ins & outs of the program and process details he created. For you to effectively elevate your ownership stance as a Rising Leader, investing the time and effort required to gain a mastery of your initiatives is paramount. Of course, the act of claiming credit should always be genuine with true personal ownership and comprehension.