Leaders develop proficiency from a lifetime of experiences. Many of these experiences occur initially upon becoming subject matter experts, such as IT technician, tax attorney, or financial advisor, to name a few.
Your leadership expertise develops as an outgrowth of these experiences. Keep in mind, though, that most people are not trained in what it is to be a leader. Many stumble into leadership and do what they think they are supposed to do in this new role.
Recently, CNBC and Catalyst released a report, “The Great Work/Life Divide: How employee desire for flexibility and employer concern is driving the future of work”. The key results of this report continue the theme we have been discussing in recent months.
The report reveals that half of working Americans want to change careers for two key reasons: (1) the perception that employers haven’t cared about their issues during the pandemic, and (2) the need for flexibility, whether it is location, when they work or how they work.
Periodically I write about self-awareness and based on some recent experiences and conversations, it seemed like a good time to revisit the topic.
Self-awareness is the ability to identify your moods, what you’re feeling, and how they have an impact on those you interact with. Self-aware people are also more in touch with what motivates them and what they want.
Beginning in 2015, LeanIn.org and McKinsey have conducted annual comprehensive studies of women in the corporate workplace. The most recent report was just released and focused on the impact of the pandemic, issues of diversity and inclusion, and the overall state of work.
This column focuses specifically on their findings related to burnout, which has been continuing as a consequence of the pandemic.