Professional Graduation

I’m laying in bed, reflecting on todays professional events. I did not complete one item on my to do list. After the subject came up/topic after topic/random occurrence requiring research/overall, items requiring significant attention. Random, yet valid, and odd emails came into my inbox which led to additional phone calls further leading to well written emails resulting in additional time spent that I don’t have to spare.

All of that occurred and yet I had zero personal production, in my opinion. I have zero worry that nothing I needed to get done was completed. Typically, I would be worried about this very thing in the evening hours. However, that isn’t happening today and I love it.

While here laying in bed waiting on Jay to go to sleep; it dawned on me. This is growth, this is professional maturity that I have never been able to obtain until today. I hope it continues because it’s beyond refreshing. It’s liberating and I can’t ignore this feeling which is the primary reason for this entry.

Over the last few years I’ve grown professionally as far as my knowledge, know how, or overall have become the person lots of people gravitate to because you understand what the right answer is or “what right looks like.” I may not know the right answer off the cuff but I can navigate to the right answer rapidly further solidifying the reason why people are gravitating towards me.

In my opinion, which was developed years prior (while I was enlisted), in order to be an effective leader; you will have had to do time in the trenches, be where the rubber meets the road, and actually spend time there. Although, the time spent in this professional area can be painful, the investment will pay extraordinary dividends. This very topic was a point of emphasis with Bill (my contracting mentor) who recently retired. He saw that the upper tiers of management and people of significant influence bypassed that very process. Not all of them, but for the few that this applies to, it was very much apparent and visible at my level during some of the briefings, reviews we had to encounter, and trainings I have attended.

My leadership tactic has matured and changed over time. I used to lead through intimidation and fear. I used to be loud and obnoxious. I was a toxic leader. Today, however, I am much more laid back, reasonable, workable, neutral, not arrogant, and hopefully not toxic. All of which are not natural to me and are learned behaviors. I hope I am doing right by people. I hope there is zero hatred
Towards me. Also, while teach people and showing them how to do this complex job, I hope I am being thorough, thoughtful to their respective learning style, and adapt accordingly. Moreover, I want for
Those I’m coaching to want (not just need to) To seek my thoughts and counsel. I will see how this leadership tactic I have adopted works out in the future, but for now that is the rhetoric I am telling myself.

I like the feeling of being that person and am taking that role to heart. I’m also taking the new found role of being a Mentor or A Coach to heart. I have yet to see the fruits of my efforts but what I am seeing is the essential light come on in someone’s head. Once I see them implement what was taught, demonstrated, or Overall show me what has been learned then I will know if my tactics are working.