’Tis the season to start setting New Year’s resolutions. Every year, I set several personal goals, but this year, I want to set a few resolutions for my work, too. Here’s the first:
I read this wonderful quote in a Chris Pratt profile about the tone that the star of a movie or TV show can set for the rest of the cast and crew:
”It starts from the top,” he explains. ”I learned that from working with Amy Poehler. If I’m not an asshole, no one else is allowed to be.”
I love that. The same, I’d argue, is true for everything else a leader does. The leader of a team can set the tone by:
-Showing up early.
-Doing a little extra to help other teams.
–Asking great questions, and actively listening to what others have to say.
-Overcommunicating when working with other teams.
-Being willing to test out new ideas.
-Always doing the work.
If you do those things, everyone else on your team needs to, too.
So here’s a work resolution: In 2017, be more mindful about the example you set as a leader at your workplace. Your team looks to you to understand how to do the work. Make sure you’re giving them a good model to follow.