During my run today, I came across a mom handing her son a snack as he was sitting happily and comfortably in his stroller. As I waved at the young toddler, I had a flashback to the times I pushed my own kids in their strollers. I had mixed emotions about the memories, as there were times when my daughters were at peace in the stroller and other times when they were upset and wanted out, badly. Needless to say, the job of a parent is never easy, even when it’s as simple as pushing a stroller. Makes me think of the role mentors play in my life. I know first-hand there are times that I can act just as a fussy kid in a stroller. Lucky for me, my mentors knew when to push, when to let me out to run and when to pick me up and dust me off.
As I continued to run, I couldn’t stop thinking of the key lessons I had learned from past and current mentors. Around mile five, I considered how mentors shaped me into who I am today.
Leadership Lessons
- It’s less about me and more about leading and serving others.
- In a leadership role, be willing to make the tough calls. Be fair and consistent but be okay making unpopular decisions.
- Attract, develop and promote the best people. Great teams make the job of a leader less stressful and extremely rewarding.
- Be present and visible to your team and always make time to listen.
- Understand the financials – regardless of the size of business, understand what activities drive and influences performance. Become a student of KPIs.
- Change management – be willing to walk the walk and talk the talk. The best way to trigger a change in a team is to, as the leader and role model, be the first to change.
Life Lessons
- Go further in my faith. Understand the difference between a believer and a follower.
- Lean on other men who have similar challenges and aspirations in life.
- Never stop learning – self-development doesn’t have to end.
- Set personal goals, not just business goals. Use the Wheel of Life as a standard to planning.
- Patience, kindness and love are always available.
- In mentoring, there has to be reciprocity. As you have been mentored, likewise return the favor and mentor others.
I am blessed to have the mentors I came across and new ones I will meet. Just as the mom who was there for her son in the stroller, mentors will continue to be there for me. My goal is to know when to be pushed and when to step out and walk on my own.