[January 18, 2014] The greatest of senior executive leaders improve themselves every day. Leadership at this level requires the commitment and the discipline to be the best you can be.
I’m a frequent flyer on a number of airlines. When flying, I get the chance to actually think about what I should be doing to get better and also observe other travelers. My observation is that a good number of my fellow travelers are simply biding their time away playing games on their laptops. Others however are reading the newspaper or studying a book. The latter is much more productive and requires more effort.
Senior leadership requires effort to do those things that improve our lot in life. This is not a 9 to 5 job. Wedging in a bit of reading, writing, or thinking into those normally wasted 15 minutes intervals has a large payoff later.
This commitment means also working hard to achieve more formal education and obtaining relevant certifications. Learning never stops. Those who make the deliberately decision to do more, get the greatest benefit later in life.
It also means learning more about people and the psychology of people. By socially being involved with others and then figuring out how we can do it better means improving those needed people skills.
“A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
We know that senior leaders are observed and judged not as much on their technical skills and knowledge, as on their attitude and demeanor. Only through a personal decision to have the passion to improve is this possible.