What is that one "magic" piece of advice/feedback you've gotten that improved your effectiveness as a leader?
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When speaking with executives, do not treat skip levels or 1:1s as just status updates. Focus on impact, highlight risks, ask for input on how to mitigate or feedback on your plan to mitigate.
It is all about transparent and frequent communication.
During my Oxford leadership program, I came across a quote that profoundly impacted my perspective on leadership: ‘A great leader matches individual skills and goals with organizational objectives, creating an environment that lets everybody be the best version of themselves.’
Really excellent comments in here. There are a few unique standouts, that I'm going to go think on.
I'll add one of my own to the mix, but it's honestly not far off from what many of you have already posted:
Everyone sees the world through their own lens—shaped by a lifetime of experience, bias, and expectation. As leaders, we must deepen our empathy to see through their lens. This gives us better understanding of their goals, fears, and motivations for better outcomes while also revealing the shape of our own lens.
A profoundly impactful piece of leadership advice is: "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." (Often attributed to Stephen Covey).
Mastering this—indeed listening to grasp team perspectives before directing—builds crucial trust, surfaces better solutions, improves buy-in, and significantly enhances overall leadership effectiveness.