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Lesson from Lean In – Part I

By naren@hybreed.co .

Lesson from Lean In – Part I

In our corporate life, we always look out for the perfect solutions, perfect answers and perfect situations. However, life is not so perfect and the imperfections of life can be handled only through knowledge and wisdom. Here are a few lessons that I found quite useful and handy from the book Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

1. Taking initiative pays off
The speed with which today’s world moves, grabbing opportunities is more important than ever. Opportunities are not well defined but instead come from someone wanting to do something. That “something” then becomes his job. As rightly said by Padmasree Warrior – Chief Technology Officer with Cisco, “You have to take opportunities and make an opportunity fit for you, rather than the other way round”

2. Act like a Child

act like child


Source: Pixabay
Criticism, anger, sadness – these things are part of a normal corporate life. The best way to deal with  it is not by hiding or denying these emotions but by telling yourself to react emotionally and feel whatever anger, sadness or being criticized evokes for us – and then, we should quickly move on. A child is a best role model for this, children can cry in a moment and run off to play in the next. Be like a child when faced with emotional outburst.

3. Do Not be a Mr.Nice to all
We often have the desire to be liked by everyone and hence we start doing things which makes others happy but not so for you. This desire is also responsible for us holding back at times. As rightly said by Mark Zuckerberg – Founder and CEO Facebook, “If you want to change things, you cannot please everyone. If you please everyone, you aren’t making enough progress”.

4. Growth – the only key work for picking a job

success growth


Source: Pixabay
When picking a job only one criteria which matters is fast growth. When companies grow quickly there are more things to do than there are people to do them.  When companies grow slowly or stop growing there is less to do and too many people to not be doing them. Politics and stagnation sets in and everyone falters. It’s like if you are offered a seat in the rocket ship, you do not ask which seat, you just get on.  Not everyone has the opportunity or the desire to work in a high growth industry. But within any field there are jobs that have more potential for growth than others or there are rocket ships within the company.

Taking risk, choosing growth, challenging ourselves and asking for promotions are all important elements of managing a career. As author Alice Walker has said “The most common reason, people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any”

At Focus, we try and give life to these and many more management lessons through Experiential learning workshops. Our workshops are designed around these management lessons and delivered by experienced facilitators for the maximum effect.

How do you fare on these traits? Do share your thoughts.

Read the 2nd part here: Lessons from: LEAN IN – Part 2

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