It's What You Know

My godfather told me when I entered the working world to know everything I could about the company I worked for. He advised me to know my assignment and the assignments of the other people in the company. It was not enough for me to know my role. I should know the roles of others and how they work together.

Good leaders cannot do everything, nor should they. However, good leaders know what is going on inside and outside of their organizations. They know who is leading their teams and their level of efficiency. They have understanding of the 4Ps of management (people, policy, procedure, and process). They understand finance and the management of budgets. Good leaders have their finger on the pulse of the organization and know when adjustments need to be made to tighten loose ends.

During my leadership at General Motors, I was enrolled in several management courses at GMU (General Motors University). These courses were not related to my current assignment, but my future assignments within the company. I realized how important this information was as I moved through the ranks into strategic leadership. I was able to build high performing teams and save the company millions of dollars through building an efficient department.

I advise leaders to take courses as part of their ongoing professional development. Knowledge comes in many forms and the marketplace is always evolving. I recently facilitated a training at a local community college. I told the participants this truth, "If you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room." Good leaders never think they know it all, but they work to expand their knowledge base. Good leaders study, retain, and apply.

If you are leading a company or department, don't settle for what you learned yesterday. Push yourself to higher heights and deeper depths. There is more to learn. The more you know, the greater asset you will be to your organization and those who follow you.

A variety of tools will help you build.