A Team of Leaders
by Brian Haverdink
Much ink has been spilled on the topic of leadership development. Undoubtedly, you’ve read a book, been recommended a podcast or TedTalk, sat through a seminar, or attended a semester-long class on the topic at some point over the last 10 – 15 years. At Foresight, we have shelves full of books by authors who have spent most of their careers examining how to best implement leadership development in organizations of all sizes, types, and disciplines.
So, anything I say about leadership development from an instructive perspective would not be worth anyone’s time to read because there’s a myriad of better sources on the topic. Instead, I’d like to acknowledge a specific example of how I see leadership development in action from the people I get to work with every day.
On Friday mornings, we meet as an entire team to recognize ways that our teammates have lived into our core values and mission.
We encourage people to highlight specific individuals, name what core value or mission component they saw that person exhibit during the week, and describe its impact to the entire team. This Friday morning tradition was born when we were completely remote during COVID, but has continued even as we returned to the office.
It’s in this setting where I’ve seen leadership development at work. When an individual takes a moment to think critically about how a teammate(s) has exemplified a core value or part of our mission, it requires humility, awareness, and vulnerability. Humility to acknowledge others around you for their efforts. Awareness of those teammates who may not know you saw or noticed what they were doing. Vulnerability to step outside one’s comfort zone, speak openly in front of a group of their peers, and identify a way they believe another person furthered the values and/or mission of this company.
Among the pillars of leadership, I believe these three stand near the top. Over the last 19+ months I’ve had the privilege to hear from every member of our team acknowledging another and, in doing so, been taught a new lesson about leadership. As our company continues its journey, giving each member of our team the opportunity to recognize others in front of the entire organization will be a hallmark of what it means to develop as a leader.