I had an opportunity this week to catch up with a former boss of mine, Rich Thompson. Since working together, he's gone on to start a successful company (XPG Recruit) and has published a book about leadership - weaving together his lessons on the topic from playing D1 football in college, to the NFL, to leading HR for a global F500.
Not only was it fun reading the stories and antidotes from events I was personally involved in, the book is full of practical (and entertaining!) advice for leaders, regardless of tenure.
My 3 big takeaways:
1. 𝗕𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁: Rich's book emphasizes that success requires relentless dedication and persistence. There will be challenges and obstacles, but it's the ability to keep going, no matter what, that distinguishes great leaders. Leaders need to set their goals, create a plan on how to achieve them and then pursue them relentlessly. It's a test of willpower, determination, and resilience. (Leadership is NOT a spectator sport!)
2. 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The book talks extensively about the importance of adaptability in leadership. In a world that's constantly changing, leaders need to be flexible and evolve with the situation. This involves being proactive in learning new information, understanding the latest trends, and being open to innovative ideas. It's about being a life-long learner and staying relevant in an ever-changing world.
3. 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺: Throughout the book, Rich emphasizes the need to value and respect the team you're leading. This means being able to connect with them, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and promote a culture of trust and respect. Leaders need to inspire their team members, listen to their ideas and involve them in decision-making processes.
Afterall, successful leadership is about building a team where everyone feels valued and empowered.
Relentless: Leading Through Performance, Relationships, and the Lessons of Sports is a great read. Thanks Rich Thompson and Ann Schulz for creating a great and entertaining guide-book for leaders at all levels.
(And bonus for those of you (like me!) who appreciate practical how-to guides, they've included brief "workshop guides" at the end of each chapter walking you through how to execute each lesson with your own team....score!)
#relentless #leadershipdevelopment #xpg