Kanye, Thoughts And Leadership Lessons
I am no Sheryl Sandberg and I sure as hell don’t have her bank balance, but I have been privileged to work in the Sports Industry for over 20 years - and in all this time, I have learnt so much about myself, others, leadership and the business of sport - of course, there is still so much I continue to learn.
With additional work responsibilities and an exciting build up already happening in Tokyo as we gear for the Rugby World Cup and the Olympics - I have been asked by some students if I can give them any advice as they approach their working careers. So outside of the usual and cliched - "Make sure you love what you do", I thought I would share the golden nuggets that time and different experiences has been so kind to teach me.
1) Be unapologetically you
It’s taken me so long to understand this, perhaps it comes with time and experience, because as long as I can remember I have always been told to be more "tough" in my approach in dealing with my team, a supplier and/or other people. Kindness in business was perceived as a weakness, tears were a definite “no no” (sidebar - I have had a couple of those) and I have even been advised to quit chasing, striving and wanting more for myself and rather perform in a career where I can "settle". The thing is - that is not me, I want more - for myself, the people and businesses I work for. I want to make a meaningful impact on the people I interact with on all levels. Because, in all honesty, I suffocate under staying the same and not growing. Plus to be honest, I like to play with the other adults in the playground. People are my vice. I love being around good humans and seeing people grow and projects develop. You always want to make sure you are in the right environment to get the best out of you and your people - culture is imperative . I always thought there was a certain way I "needed" to be, to ensure that I will be taken seriously, to be heard more or to be noticed on all my efforts - but this never worked because the reality is, if it’s not you, its blatantly obvious and why lie to yourself - it’s the ultimate form of betrayal. Trust is earned with your team and people if you are authentic. Me running a meeting and not cracking a joke is like Kanye not loving Kanye and well let’s be honest, that is just not going to happen.
2) Self - Awareness
Oh yes, this one is a biggie! This is something my fav Gary Vee speaks about all the time (High 5 to the Vee) . It’s quite simple really - know your strengths and play to those. This was my "'ah" moment! We can’t excel at everything and if you are in finance you will for sure need to ace your budgets. Of course you always need to have an understanding of certain things that will be relevant to your scope but always remember your strengths. I enrolled and started my MBA ...drum roll....(its yet to be completed by the way - will save that for another time) but to be honest, I never really started it for me. I started it because that is what I thought I needed to have under my belt to ensure I could have a seat at the boardroom table. Last time I checked it’s okay not to be a MIT whizz and there is excel for that anyway. Good old Pythagoras theorem' has yet to be used in a presentation of mine anyway. Always remember, acknowledging your weaknesses is not the same as surrendering to them. Don't worry about looking good but rather focus on achieving your goal and know it’s not a sign of weakness if you don’t have all the answers. Surround yourself with those that do and empower other peoples strengths. Seek this for your team, yourself and you will bound to be a stronger force.
3) Find a mentor
Even leaders need mentors. If you can’t find one in your closest circles, reach out online or listen into podcasts. I know half of the person I am today is based off listening to mentors. The digitisation of the world makes it possible to be accessible to these people and while I can’t personally sit and have a coffee with my mentor crew (Gary, Tony, Ray - you know who you are) I sure can enjoy my own cup while I soak up all their wisdom to help me become a better version of me. Encourage your team, your people and your crew to find theirs. Mindset is controllable and if you add more people around you that are optimistic you will start approaching your work, your world and your people in such a different way.
4) Open Mindedness
This is a non-negotiable. The world is changing - constantly. For a business and/or a team to be effective, you must not let your needs be more important than what is true. Don't let your ego allow yourself to learn less or fall short of any massive potential learning opportunities that are possible. Credibility is earned, sure - but being open minded to other people and ideas and their experiences is a sure fire way to success.
5)Work Hard....And Smart
I have missed a lot of friend’s events, perhaps growing up trying to prove myself in a male dominated industry or chasing the briefcase vs a wedding dress (well I did that too and we all know how that ended up ). But this cannot be stated enough. Hard work pays off - in the end. Patience is a virtue and expecting immediate results is a sure way to be disappointed. Working long hours, missing many parties and even working for free (oh yes you heard that correctly) has opened so many doors, taught me so much and allowed me to meet so many amazing people. You might think the long hours, late nights and sacrifice go unnoticed but I cant express enough that they certainly do not by the right people. Grind. Hustle. Graft. The ones that notice matter and if they don’t, find yourself a team that will. I read somewhere the other day - Hustle beats talent, when talent doesn't hustle. Word!
So with all that said, if you walk away with anything, stick to your DNA, do YOU, be YOU, and run your own race. Everyone has different goals and needs and if you are authentic to yours and focus on YOUR path, everything will fall into place - when the time is right and who does not love authenticity.
As the legend Gary Vee said : "If you want to be an anomaly, you have to act like it"
