What's the best approach to developing the next generation of leaders? Polish a Diamond.
Some years ago, a bright young engineer was assigned to my group. He was very capable, energetic, and technically sharp, but a bit “rough around the edges” when it came to dealing with people. He made no secret of his career ambitions (he thought he’d get from entry level to CEO in less than 5 years), and could be kind of pushy rather than persuasive. He was also known to be rather tactless when giving feedback to others. Nevertheless, his potential was apparent.
My job was to “polish the diamond-in-the-rough”, to teach him the soft skills he would need to succeed. I provided one-on-one feedback after attending his meetings to help him see how his abrasive style was holding him back, and to offer some alternative ways of communicating that would not only get the tasks done but also nurture long-term allies who would want to help him again in the future.
I think the best advice I ever gave him was, “If you want to be considered for promotion, the managers and directors have to think of you as a peer.” This comment was a turning point – he really started to internalize that his overly aggressive approach was viewed as a sign of immaturity.
Nowadays, he’s a C-suite executive. A bit late on his 5-year plan perhaps, but likely not achievable at all before my intervention. This and so many other success stories have culminated in the approach used in CAEDENCE's "Lead On!™" leadership development program.
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