Most people start their working life with enthusiasm, a bit of fear combined with confidence and a great desire to learn. New employees are often full of ideas, passion, and enthusiasm. In a way, moving up the corporate ladder for many leaders means putting passion aside and becoming more of a worker zombie.
Zombie workers can be hard to spot: successful, in charge perhaps, and masters of the grind: what to wear, how to talk, what to drive, effective networking, what a leader is supposed to be/do/look like. Exploding passion has turned into acceptance of the work to be done and the people to be managed. People need inspired leaders to truly excel – here are three steps to determine where you fall on the continuum from zombie to inspired leader.
Here are three places to start:
1) Get in touch with what it is to work with you and for you. Of course you can do things, but what is the experience of being your colleague? What about one person on your team? Lastly, someone you might not think about much, the new employee who sees you mostly in large meetings or on calls? Find a way to ASK THEM. You can do this a number of ways: Leadership 360, talk to your trusted advisors at work and ask them for the real deal if you think they’re not afraid to say so, start an anonymous box and ask people to enter three words that describe you . Get the word out that you’re committed to hearing the real deal.
2) During one-on-ones with your direct reports (you have them regularly, don’t you?), ask them to help you stretch; ask them to come prepared with a STOP/START/CONTINUE to you at least on a scheduled quarterly or semi-annual basis. There is no need to discuss them in detail or embarrass them by challenging or defending them. Thank them for the feedback and really take time to reflect outside of the meeting. If you want to talk more in depth to better understand your feedback, have another short meeting focused on START/STOP/GO. The one-on-one meeting must remain focused on the other individual and their needs and growth.
3) Make a list of the three words that you think best describe you today and the three words (or phrases) that you ideally want to best describe you. Are all three the same? Where is the overlap, the difference? It’s just as important to know how others see you as it is to be willing to take a hard look and really get to know yourself.
Now you will see:
- How others see/experience you
- Places to Focus on START/STOP/GO Behaviors
- How do you see yourself and how do you want to be seen?
Through this process, you also show others who you are as a leader:
- willing to listen
- Open to receive feedback and take action
- Committed to excellence in leadership
- Appreciation for two-way communication
What you do with the information is just as important as knowing how others perceive you. Make a decision, and take it seriously: the world has enough of corporate zombies.