As you move into progressively larger leadership positions throughout your career, one thing you quickly learn is that there are aspects of the role you never learn in books and business programs. There are many everyday activities and encounters that no one ever tells you about, because honestly, there truly are some things you just have to experience for yourself. With that in mind, here are a few real-world tips to help you prepare for the parts of leadership that may not feel so glamorous -- but are important parts of the role.
Expect the unexpected.
I have fielded calls from the police, Secret Service, the FBI and several other government agencies. I have been given unsolicited detailed accounts of people’s personal lives -- both benign and involving imminent danger. I have called hospitals, plumbers, exterminators, general contractors … the list goes on. All of this occurred during the normal course of business in various leadership roles I have held over the years, and I can promise you I never heard about any of it in my business classes, nor was I asked one question about these scenarios on the CPA exam.
The reality is that leadership is ultimately about people, and people have lives that get complicated, messy, fun and confusing. As leaders, it is important to understand that there is more to the role than just the requirements of the project at hand. Be prepared for anything and everything to come across your desk at any time. Whatever the situation, the main things to keep in mind are to listen, withhold personal judgment and maintain your professionalism. Effective leaders sustain their composure, especially when the circumstances pull them out of their comfort zones.
Keep your friends close.
Make sure that finance, legal and human resources are your best friends. There are some leaders who see these teams as sources of extra work and hoops to jump through, but they take that perspective at their own peril. We live in a world of laws and regulations, and the people who work in these areas are critical to the success not only of your organization but your individual accomplishments as well. You can lead a department that overperforms on every milestone, but that will not mean much if you have no accurate financial results to show for it, low employee morale or lawsuits coming at you from all sides. Developing strong relationships with finance, legal and human resources will make your job and your life in general infinitely easier in the long run, so don’t overlook the opportunity to engage with them early and often.
Nothing is below your pay grade.
Having a leadership role does not mean you have magically crossed a threshold where there are some things you no longer have to do. Yes, there are naturally some things you want to extricate yourself from doing and delegate to others so you can focus more strategically. However, there may come a time when you do have to be the one jumping into the fray to get things done right alongside everyone else. While the hope is that your leadership would prevent a project from reaching that point, there are no guarantees. As I stated earlier, expect the unexpected and know that there is no job that is beneath you if the circumstances leave no other option. One of the most powerful tools a leader has is the ability to lead by example. Nothing speaks more loudly to those on your team than to see that you are willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve a goal, whether that involves speaking to the Board of Directors or picking up dinner for the team over a long night of work.
Leaders have responsibility for a variety of areas, and there is no task too large or too small, given the right (or wrong) circumstances. Keep an open mind, and stay engaged with your teams and other contemporaries, so as the normal and unusual aspects of life and business collide, you are ready to take them on without missing a beat.
