I opened my leadership workshop this week with a question I often ask and one that usually stirs some deep thinking in the participants’ minds:

Think of a leader you have met along the way who has helped you get to where you are today. What made them so impactful for you?

I watched the faces of everyone in the program and listened as the noise in the room came to a stand still. Each person started to process the question as I noticed some jotting down notes while others seemed to hold their thoughts inside of their minds. The beauty of this question is that there is no right or wrong answer. No good or bad response. It empowers each attendee to not only identify an important person in their life but also what they learned from them.

Taking stock in whom we have met and what lessons we have learned from them is a helpful way to honor where we are today and where we are headed.

The important people we have met along the way help shape our leadership today. Share on X

What Have You Learned From The People You Have Met Along The Way?

 

Make A List Of The 3 Most Important People In Your Life

To begin this process simply write out the names of people who have crossed your path in both your personal and professional life and who have significance to you. No order no judging. Just a short list of names- family members, friends, co-workers, bosses, people we volunteer with. These important people may or may not be with us now.

Write Short Anecdotes About Each

After you have your list together, it is time to just reflect on your interactions with them. These narratives will help you think more deeply how they impacted your leadership journey. When creating these anecdotes:

  • Be as specific as possible.
  • Keep the stories simple and short.
  • Imagine being with them in the moment.
  • Try to have a smile on your face as it will bring you to a good place.

Identify The Leadership Lessons Learned From Your Connections

Now comes the “connect-the-dots” part of this process. Ask yourself what you learned and how you grew as a leader from having this person in your life. Go a step further and recognize the qualities and behaviors that each of these people possessed. How did those characteristics impress and change you? The lessons may have been about how to be more effective in your job responsibilities or how to lead with integrity and trust. All the things you learned had an impact on who you are today.

Leaders grow from the words and stories shared by people they meet along the way. Share on X

Decide How To Keep The Words and Stories Alive

Now that we know the lessons we have learned from the important individuals in our lives, it is essential to keep them alive and part of our leadership. What are some ways to keep the stories alive?

  • Use the words and stories as a compass to guide you especially during challenging times.
  • Keep the lessons in a special place easy to access in case you need reinforcing.
  • Share the anecdotes and teachings with your team members and ask them about the important people they met along the way.
  • Become a leader who epitomizes those important people as they and their advice will never let you down.

What have you learned from the people you have met along the way?

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