To the best mentor I have ever had,
I have been blessed with great supervisors, managers and mentors throughout my career, but you were the first to insist that I be myself.
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As a Fortune VP 100 company, I thought I knew what I wanted and how to get it. You taught me that I not only had the confidence to do my job and do it well, but also the ability to elevate my thinking outside of my wheelhouse – to become a business leader, not just a boss. communications. Thanks to you, I stopped thinking about the “success” I had achieved in the world of communications and realized that I had only scratched the surface of what could be beyond.
Thank you for teaching me the five most valuable lessons of my career:
1. Always be a badass.
Everyone told me to get to work. But you didn't make a management platitude out of it, you thought.
When you told me to wear whatever I wanted for my first day on the job, "even if it's a curtain shower," I didn't know your leadership team was dealing with a massive crisis at the time. You didn't have to take the time to greet me, but you did. The more I immersed myself in the company and the team, the more meaningful the (admittedly quirky) suggestion became.
You didn't want me to conform to my preconceptions of what this job would be like. You wanted me to be myself and take on challenges as I wanted rather than as others would expect me to. I could rock the boat when I felt it necessary, but I doubt I would have had the confidence to do so if you hadn't constantly reminded me that I deserved that weight.
It didn't matter that I just came from a different environment. You showed me that I don't have to apologize or for my ideas.
2. Keep your sense of humor.
As if telling me I could wear a shower curtain (as long as it wasn't see-through!) wasn't enough, you always kept it light. No matter how heavy things get, you managed to have fun at work. Our team made music in the meeting room, danced on tables, wore silly outfits, and created fun cards for each other. But we didn't do it for fun. We did it because the odds were constantly stacked against us and we needed a reminder that things weren't as bad as they seemed.
Work is work, but life is more important . Of course, we were professional, demanding and committed. We pursued ambitious goals and deadlines and held each other accountable. But no matter now the situation has gotten hot, you have reminded us that we still have time to enjoy the ride.
I credit this levity with our ability to get the company and its products back to market better than never. Because we worked together, I followed the same philosophy with my team. We “embrace the suck,” as you taught me, laughing at our situations and overcoming stress through teamwork.
3. Provide genuine criticism.
You never passed judgment, but you never let me off the hook either. If I made a mistake, let me know. If something wasn't enough, I heard about it. But you never made it personal. You never yelled or pointed fingers. You worked with me to make it better.
Whenever I needed an avenue to vent, you listened without raising an eyebrow. The same was true when I needed advice or career insights in my personal life. Your respectful attitude allowed me to be transparent without worrying about office politics or my future.
During one of our one-on-one meetings, you turned an update project day into a personal conversation because you could tell I was out of the game. You rearranged your schedule just to talk. I can't tell you how much that meant to me personally and professionally. I now try to offer my employees the same courtesy so that I can help them grow as you have helped me.
4. Give instructions and back off.
The reality is that I've had bosses in my life who liked to micromanage. You never did. Instead, you hired me and others to do our jobs, gave us what we needed, and walked out of the way.
Rather than seeing you as our overlord, you have acted as our greatest defender. You removed the roadblocks and helped us fight when we needed a little extra muscle. It felt more like a partnership than an employer-employee relationship.
I remember when we had a heated disagreement in a meeting with several other people. After the meeting, you called me into your office and we sorted it out. But I never felt like you were scolding me. You gave me the power to do anything, even disagree with you, which taught me to trust my opinions and share them with pleasure.
5. Embrace a work-life balance.
When our business was not doing well, we often worked late nights and weekends because our job was to keep the business going. Despite the stress, you encouraged and embodied work-life balance.
You brought healthy snacks and exercise equipment so we didn't stagnate at our desks. When we worked long hours, you always found a way to catch up with us (and our families too). Because of your influence, I'm taking work-life balance more than ever – even now that I'm calling the shots. Your "health and family first" philosophy continues to influence the way I live my life and lead my team.
None of us are working for this company anymore, but I'm glad we're staying. in touch. Your guidance and perspective have made me the leader I am today. You continue to inspire me, even from afar. I know that no matter where you are, you have my back. I hope to be the same type of mentor to my employees as you have been to me.
Related: How to Excel as a Mentor or Mentee
