Last fall I posted an article titled, “What Makes a Great Leader?” I mention this article not to re-hash what traits I believe make for a great leader but to touch on something I wrote at the conclusion of that piece about careers.
Here’s what I said
“Your career is yours – and it’s far too important to be left to someone else…do what you believe in and want to get done. Don’t get too safe, or too comfortable; stay edgy and drive forward.”
These are not just words I like to espouse to people who are kind enough to listen. These words are part of our career credo and have fueled my professional progression by giving me the drive and confidence to not only explore opportunities to move up within a business but take on fantastic challenges. This includes my newest venture here at IBM where I was recently announced as the Chairman and CEO of Asia Pacific (AP), which spans 10 countries, working with hundreds of thousands of talented people within IBM. I can’t wait to continue my IBM journey and look forward to getting started!
Perhaps other readers have embarked on a similar path, taking all the skills and insights they’ve absorbed to move into a new leadership role within their current company or a new business altogether. If so, it’s time for us all to celebrate, but not for too long. I don’t mean to be a spoilsport. The reality is that in today’s professional climate, “newbies” cannot afford to rest on their laurels. The why is simple—the world is moving too fast and the days of “We’ll give you some time to settle into your new role here” are over.
Whether you’ve just moved into a new position or you’re simply beginning to explore what opportunities are out there, I’m excited that you are taking charge of your career. It’s here that I would like to share my latest piece of advice—when that first day comes, hit the ground running. Here are some best practices I keep in mind for myself:
Act Now, Decorate Later: There’s no time to set up your desk and hang pictures on the walls. You can do that later. If it’s 9am on day number one and you’re still in your office, you’re already behind. Get out and meet as many people within the company as you can, from marketing and sales to communications and product development and everything in between.
Also connect with clients and even partners. Get to know them intimately including what they’re saying about your business publically and their history with the company. Regardless of who you are speaking with, give them your full attention (you can think about your next meeting later) because each meeting you have is critical. Also, be both open and honest and ask others to do the same. Being honest and transparent have never hurt a business. Some of these conversations may be easier than others but make sure you always share your excitement about the possibilities that lay ahead for the business.
Take a Note…Or Two: The people you’re meeting with are the lifeblood of the company. They’ve been part of both its successes and failures and the lessons they’ve learned along their journey are more critical and enlightening than any other resource you can get your hands on. But don’t just listen, take notes on the insights they share. This notebook will be the best way for you to truly understand the company, its strengths, weaknesses and much more. You can also refer back to this content down the road, remember who shared what insight and show each how who you utilized their feedback and then positive impact it’s had on the company.
Don’t Forget Who Got You There: There’s a reason you were attracted to a new position. It could be its past track record, the business’s innovative product line, a new market opportunity it’s addressing or most likely a combination of several factors. Whatever it is, there little doubt that the outgoing leader had something to do with it. As you immerse yourself moving the business forward, take time to pause and show a deep respect for that person and admiration what they achieved over their tenure.
The Spotlight is On and Everybody is Watching: When you enter a new leadership role, you not only have to come out fast and strong, you must prepare yourself to operate under the pressure of the corporate microscope. Why? This is an intensive time and the decisions you make will impact the business and its employees. For that reason, the entire company will have their eyes on you as they should. To succeed, corporate leaders must follow the lead of the world class athlete—exercise regularly, eat right and make sure your energies are up at all times. By fine tuning your body and mind, you can make the right decisions under any circumstances.
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate: When many people jump into a new leadership role, the tendency is to enter a corporate bunker where they seal themselves off from those around them. That’s a big mistake. Leaders cannot operate in a cocoon, they must step out and establish an early intimacy with the business. In today’s climate, communicating is critical. Keep the business updated on what’s happening, be energetic and share your big decisions clearly as well as the reason behind them and encourage others to reach out to you. Being “in-the-know” helps to remind employees that they’re all part of a bigger team.
Come in with Open Arms: Diverse teams and an inclusive working environment not only provide a foundation for success in the present, they also foster a culture of growth where anyone and everyone can ascend the corporate ladder. IBMers have seen this first hand. Just look at me! When you begin your new leadership journey, don’t just welcome a culture of diversity, deliver it. Take action to ensure the promise of inclusion is met and then watch as the incredible creative ideas and fabulous technologies innovations begin to grow.
Taking charge of your career is incredibly important. So too is identifying the right opportunity. Make sure you’re surrounded by people who will support you in the new role and will help you develop. That’s be incredibly valuable to me in my time at IBM and its part of why I’m moving back to AP, a place where I have lived and thrived in before. I can’t wait to get started. When your times comes, I hope that my insights can be of help. And of course, I am always looking for more guidance to help in my continued journey.