The "Big Three Questions"

Quick question: When you were a young leader, what three questions would you have liked to ask someone with more experience?

 I was prompted to think about this while listening to a podcast episode by Dave Stachowiak on The Ways to Pay it Forward. He and his guest Glenn Parker shared some great stories of how they’d been mentored early in their careers. 

Reflecting on that time in my career, I imagine I’m in the early days of Services for Community Living, the agency I founded. I’m feeling overwhelmed with responsibilities but I take a step back to ask one of my mentors three big questions, the answers to which could make or break our success. 

Here are several questions that were on my mind at the time. And some of the answers I’ve discovered over the years. 

How do you build credibility with your stakeholders, especially at a young age? 

  • Be curious and open minded about others’ perspectives, ask them to explain their thinking, and be willing to share yours. 

  • Try not to take things personally even when they feel personal.

  • Cultivate receptivity to challenging feedback even when you’re cringing inside. 

  • Be someone other people can count on. Keep your promises.

 How do you build a high performing team committed to service?

  • Hire for people’s values and commitment, not only their experience with the work.

  • Have a clear vision and communicate that to your staff; tie the vision to even the most mundane of tasks.

  • Show your appreciation. Be specific about what you appreciate and the impact.

  • Make a commitment to develop your people no matter what.

How do you effectively manage time and be highly productive?

  • Find a productivity system that works for you and stick to it (until you find a more helpful one).

  • Even in a crisis, consider how this can further your long term goals.

  • Make sure to block out time for activities that yield long term results (like learning, planning and strategic thinking).

  • Don’t fall victim to the fallacy that multi-tasking is an effective way to manage time.

What are your “Big Three Questions”? And what would be the answers?