Playing Big talks about leaving good student habits behind. It notes that students are praised for following authority versus challenging or influencing authority.
This makes me think of my daughter since I often tell her that it's important to listen to her teachers and elders. I've changed that messaging to tell her that it's ok to ask questions or suggest something else, but in a respectful way and with good manners.
Beyond that, it's a good reminder for me that I should focus on influencing authority. As a project manager, I am constantly influencing people. I just need to elevate this behavior to the executive level.
Similar to thinking about feedback as data points about the person (versus something tied to me directly), thinking of self-promotion as visibility is transformative. I have negative connotations when I think about self-promotion, but not about visibility.
"Speaking forthrightly about our accomplishments allows women to know our accomplishments and integrate them into our sense of self." This ties into my epiphany after reviewing my StrengthsFinder results that my skills and value that I add are big deals & not just a bit above average.
Playing Big emphasizes taking risks and playing bigger v over-preparation; refocusing energy spent on preparation to improvisation.
I have noticed that attending meetings that I am not running opens me up to play bigger. Instead of focusing on the meeting itself (keeping people on topic, time checks, etc), I have the space to think strategically and contribute ideas.
As a project manager, I am often running meetings. I need to learn to balance the tactical elements of effective meetings with improvisation. A possible way to do this is to not share my screen as much since my focus becomes driving the meeting/my screen versus taking the space to think.
=============== Exercises =================
RELATING TO AUTHORITY
Old Skill: good at figuring out what each authority figure wanted and providing it
New Skill:
- challenge & influence authority figures
- find alternative authority figures aligned with your point of view
- become the authority
What I did:
Steered executive away from analyzing survey results for alternative solution (just as effective but less work)
What I Learned:
Instead of implementing what executive sponsors/decision makers want, I can and should go ahead with my own ideas, and not wait for someone else to sign off on
What I Want to Do with This Next:
Continue to act on this: that I should go ahead with my own ideas instead of asking permission/waiting for someone to validate them first
PREPARATION V IMPROVISATION
Old Skill: be prepared, ready with the answer for anything you might be asked
New Skill:
- brilliant careers require that we think on our feet
- get used to the idea that improvising is part of the job description
What I did:
For meetings that I run, focus on the agenda but loosen up and allow room for improvisation. To allow for improvisation, I stopped sharing my screen when it was no longer necessary. This small step made me feel more engaged as a participant v organizer. When presenting, I'm not able to see other people in the meeting. When I stopped sharing my screen, it took the focus away from the agenda and allowed me to become more engaged with the meeting.
Something else I will do: stop multitasking during team meetings and focus on contributing/improvisation instead...
What I Learned:
Not sharing my screen makes me more present in the meeting as a participant v organizer. That going off agenda is ok, although I still focus on hitting the key points. Going off agenda also allows me to strengthen relationships
What I Want to Do with This Next:
Share my screen when necessary in meetings (it does add value & keeps people focused) but then unshare when it's not needed. And to stop multitasking during meetings & really focus my dedicated time instead of going through & responding to emails.
Old Skill: look outside yourself for answers
New Skill:
- turn your focus inward and trust what you already know
- when instinct is to look outside yourself for an answer, take a few deep breaths, slow down, and look instead to see what ideas and insights are already in you
What I did:
As part of preparing for a Deep Dive for LDP program, had asked what I should focus on. Realized though, that I was able to answer this myself by taking the time to look at reference materials and just think...
What I Learned:
Initial guidance is usually already out there (whether in emails, posted online in SP or through a google search), I just need to take the time to stop and put in the work to do the work/thinking myself
What I Want to Do with This Next:
JUST DO GOOD WORK V DO GOOD WORK AND MAKE IT VISIBLE
Continue to not share credit when not necessary, and I need to reference past successes and work (which I consider non-exceptional) but really is great work.
Old Skill: work hard and perform well, get a good grade
New Skill:
- work hard, but make sure people know about your excellent performance
- find your way to own your accomplishments and talk about them gracefully
What I did:
Instead of sharing credit for a tracking spreadsheet & review process that I worked on when it was praised, I said thank you & reiterated the value/reason why I created the spreadsheet.
What I Learned:
I do not need to/should not share credit with someone who worked on a project with me, that it's not insincere or unctuous to do this. When I do share credit, it takes away from my accomplishment and ownership of what I did to make things happen.
What I Want to Do with This Next:
I need to do this as a reminder to myself of my strengths and value that I add, as well as building my reputation with others. Ultimately leading to executive presence: Ability to project authority while communicating with confidence and authenticity.
No comments:
Post a Comment