I recently had the pleasure of handing in my keys and closing the doors to my office. An office that I had helped start from scratch just some years ago. It’s not an easy thing to do when you’ve vested so much of your blood sweat and tears into a venture. The business world is a shifty opponent. You can hit the mark only to find the mark moved during flight. In the challenging hunt of profit, catching the elusive quarry doesn’t even guarantee you as a feature to the mold they plan to cast in the future.
I can say these things without bitterness because I’ve always had a logical approach to working for a company where someone else is writing the checks. I owned my own company in the past so I get it. Longevity to a location truly is their choice and it doesn’t mean you’ve failed when their vision goes elsewhere. More leaders should spend time making sure they align with their company’s vision rather than their company’s industry. I must also admit that it’s easy to write these things because I was fortunate enough to quickly land a position with a company that has me so excited I stay up at night thinking about how to hit the ground at full speed.
This late night reflection is what has me inspired and rejuvenated. I’ve always tried to carry myself with integrity and a true respect for others. I know that I have failed miserably at times, but overall I feel like I’ve put the good of others above myself and it has paid off in my young career. (I’m 41 and am convincing myself daily that I’m young regardless of what the mirror shows!) When people ask how old I am I always respond “in normal years or contractor years?”
How often in our careers do we get these re-starts or new-starts? And when they do come around, do we make the most of them? That question has followed me most of my career. “Am I making the most of this opportunity for my family, my team, and me?”
I’ve come up with these few challenges to myself to ensure that I’m staying true to the journey of growth and improvement and I thought I’d share them with you.
What is my purpose statement and am I still in alignment?
- If you don’t have a purpose statement, get one. What is it that inspires you? What was it that you admired about a childhood hero before someone told you it wasn’t realistic? I have a couple that I live by but in general it’s about mentoring leaders so that I make an impact in the future lives of people I don’t even know. Take a moment for self-reflection and make sure that you haven’t abandoned your principles at the bottom of that ladder you are so rushed to climb.
Be honest about my failures in my past experiences.
- My mistakes have been the greatest teachers of all time. In the construction world, our safety rules are written in the blood of our brothers. It helps to make a honest and brutal list of where you have failed and what your plan is to avoid these pitfalls this go round.
Spend quality time getting to know your team.
- Put into action the easy items first. Start weekly conference calls. Go on monthly ride-a-longs with your managers. Then step it up a notch and get out of your comfort zone. Call first thing in the morning with no agenda other than to find out how their weekend was. Learn the names of their children and pets. Some of the greatest relationships you may form are when you find out a 300 lb iron worker has a 5 lb lap dog named precious. Invest your time in caring about their well-being. The return on investment is exceptional.
Analyze your Mentors and adjust if necessary.
- Any great leader has a few partners or advisers that are sought out when tough decisions are to be made. If your recent transition has led you into greater responsibility or a different area of expertise, make sure that you have the trusted advisers in place to make you successful in your new journey.
The vehicle that carried you to the mountain may not be the best choice to make the climb
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