Friday, July 7th, 2006...3:00 pm
Leading Up: Connect With Your Leader
As you have probably figured out by now, I am currently reading The 360 Degree Leader by John C. Maxwell. I have been approaching this book a chapter a week. Why? First because in my life, reading time is rather restricted (the by-product of having two young children). Second, I feel that it is appropriate to work on the principles in this book by implementing them over a week. So I work on changing a habit over a weeks time, then read the next chapter.
This week, I read about the 4th principle of leading up. It is connecting with your leader. Let me preface this by saying that connecting with your leader does not mean…well…brown nosing (There, I said it!!!). Any leader will be able to see right through that tactic. The key is knowing that those who succeed with leaders in an organization, do so because they have earned the trust of their leader.
How do you earn trust? Find out what interests your leader. Establish a relationship. Show genuine interest in them as a person. It does not even hurt to find out more about something they are interested in…a hobby, for instance. You don’t have to take it up, just be able to carry on a decent conversation on the topic.
When I was hired on at the company I currently work for, I had no trouble establishing a relationship with my leader. Though he was several years my senior, he and I came from the same university, we both are huge hockey fans, Braves fans, soccer fans…etc. So there was a natural connection. He and I still are good friends, even though he is no longer my manager.
Sometimes the relationship is not so easy to build. It may take time and patience. But earning the trust of your leader is worth the effort.
Also, listen to your leader talk about the work you do. Listen for keys to their priorities. More times than not, those priorities came from someone above them. If those keys are not so clear, it never hurts to ask them. Figure out your leader’s priorities, and be responsive. They need to know that they can depend on you.
- Jason
2 Comments
July 8th, 2006 at 8:12 pm
I heartily agree about asking your leader about their priorities. Understanding those priorities and how they mesh with your organizations priorities and your own can create real alignment. Being aware of your leaders priorities also gives you insight into what information really matters.
July 9th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Jason… this is a GREAT paragraph…
How do you earn trust? Find out what interests your leader. Establish a relationship. Show genuine interest in them as a person. It does not even hurt to find out more about something they are interested in…a hobby, for instance. You don’t have to take it up, just be able to carry on a decent conversation on the topic.
In my travels/research/life, I have found these questions open “most” doors to a continued, and upleveling, conversation:
“What were some of your favourite classes in college?”
“How long have you lived where you are living?”
“What hobbies have you taken up and dropped over the years?”
I use these kinds of open-ended questions to keep the conversation going. They let me know a bit more about who I am talking with. They also go a long way in letting me know what they think is important/relevent, both personally and (oftentimes) professionally.
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