My One Word of Advice – V3.1
The wise seek advice, but fools stand aloof.
5 principles for successful advice-giving:
- Rush to ask questions, not give answers.
- Explain the problem you’re solving before solving it. Maybe you’re giving an answer to a problem they don’t see.
- Don’t impose your strengths on advisees.
- Offer options, not single answers. Advisees feel powerful when making choices.
- Listen to your own experience.
I asked leaders, “What advice would you give if you could only give one word of advice.”
“View the success of those you lead by the value they provide to the organization, not the amount of time they ‘put in’ each day.” CIO in healthcare
“When you want to be critical of others, critique yourself first.” Name witheld
“Practice humility, because it can open doors, soften resistance, and create solutions that would not otherwise be possible.” Former Community Development Director of a Southern California city and part-time dishwasher, Sparrow Bakery
“Operate with integrity and sincerity. It may not always feel like it in the moment but staying on the high road will eventually take you where you need to be.” David Brakhage Director of Operations, Great Lakes/Atlantic Region, Ducks Unlimited
“Show up, lift up, and never give up. Speak greatness into people and situations. Give trust.” Joe McBreen, CIO St. Vrain Valley School District
“Manage your energy and that of your team.” Abe Klassen, CEO MC3 Manufacturing
“My mentor told me, ‘No one is going to pin a rose on you just for doing your job.’ His point was work smarter, not harder – focus effort on where I can get the biggest return or gain for the business. Stop trying to do it all. Be careful about letting others pile their priorities on you.” Anne Weigle, Chief of Staff GSA, PBS Northwest/Arctic Region
What helpful advice have you received?
We have to get away from “They are not doing a good job if they aren’t the first one in and the last one out” mentality. Are you bringing value to the team? period. Purposeful delegation frees me up and helps others grow and feel like they are part of the team.
This statement stands out for me, “Stop trying to do it all. Be careful about letting others pile their priorities on you.” Once I learned and implemented this and stood behind it I became free, more productive and better organized. Solutions to challenges (not problems) then became easier and clearer.
What helpful advice have you received?
“Relax and push” has been with me since my Cross Country coach in High School connected with us. I use it every day!
“Be all you can be”, sticks as well, don’t short change yourself, reach for the stars. Dreams do come true!
Assume positive intent!
Suggesting that we ask questions first is wise advice. So many assumptions are made that we create enormous biases first instead of just asking a question to get more information. If people never suggest a new idea to you, it’s because you’ve torpedoed every one of their ideas before.
“As a species, we have a tendency to seek certainty and to disregard evidence to the contrary. Seeking certainty puts a set of blinkers on us, and once on, those blinkers are almost impossible to remove. Uncertainty means we have to admit fear, and indecision, and the possibility that we just don’t know the answer.”https://thinkingfutures.net/blog/the-future-is-uncertain
The future IS uncertain…
The future is uncertain. Let me write that again. The future is uncertain. Just in case you haven’t got it yet: the future is uncertain. There are no future facts. None. If anyone is serious when the tell you they can predict the future, tell them I said they are fools. There is no way to pre
thinkingfutures.net