Читать книгу The Together Leader - Heyck-Merlin Maia - Страница 10

I entered my first job as a nonprofit leader at Teach For America immediately after working as a classroom teacher – where I basically had no time. Teaching was an efficiency and prioritization game. But in my new role, everything was suddenly about choices: how to use my time, how to spend our limited money, and which staff to hire and when. With each new decision I was reminded of whose future was at stake. Yikes!

Togetherness is a means to an end. You can lead a strong organization without being completely Together. Many top-notch organizations do not subscribe to a culture of Togetherness and instead place strong value on turning on a dime, dropping everything to pursue an opportunity, and swooping in to flawlessly solve a crisis. I respect this. And a small percentage of people want this excitement on a daily basis for the rest of their lives.

The former chief talent officer in me would argue that this approach, though invigorating, will not build the teams and organizations we want over time. People get burnt out by late-night, never-ending meetings, and eventually even the most mission-dedicated individuals decide they want more time with their families. The Together Leader is about finding the right balance between systems and spontaneity so that you can meet all of your organization's goals – and have a life!

FAQ

Can this book work for me if I am not a mission-driven leader? I've grappled with this question myself, but the answer is yes. I actually believe everything in this book can be applied to any busy leader. Go for it!

On the flip side, it's also possible to be incredibly Together yet highly ineffective. I'm sure you have all met the color-coded colleague with her notebook always at the ready along with a specific set of pens and a very neat desk. But at the end of the year, she actually didn't accomplish any of her goals. This person often has a very mechanically clean calendar but doesn't always prioritize. She might get the next steps from meetings accomplished without issue but can't stop to reflect on if she is actually doing things that will ensure she reaches her goals.

Can you be effective without being Together? Yes, but only for a short period of time. Eventually your disorganization will catch up with you in some way, whether it's your team getting tired of operating in crisis mode, losing enough sleep that you get sick all the time, or your family forgetting what you look like.

The goal is to be Together enough to achieve your goals, do your job to the best of your ability, and enjoy your life. This can happen when you and your organization routinize all predictable work, make processes more efficient, and ruthlessly plan ahead. I want you to have more headspace to think innovatively and creatively, react smoothly to true emergencies, and minimize as much job-related stress and overwhelmedness as possible.