I went into a Fortune 50 company as a fresh graduate. I emerged 5 years later as a leader. This is what I learned during my time at P&G.
Ok so I need to choose what I share, because 5 years of experience canโt really be distilled into a single post without sounding like a meme.
Here are 5 things that I learned about speaking as a leader, since you know, thatโs kind of my jam:
๐ญ. ๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐.
You own the project. So speak like it. Your words need to clarify team memberโs roles, address issues before they become issues and check for comprehension.
๐ฎ. ๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ง๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ๐ ๐น๐ถ๐๐บ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐.
If what you say would be printed tomorrow as a headline in the New York Times, would you be able to stand by it? If not, donโt say it.
๐ฏ. ๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐. ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฝ.
Young employees have more new ideas than clean socks. But when you share an idea, have the data to back up why itโs a good one.
๐ฐ. ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น.
My boss got me presenting on my second day. A few years later, I became the youngest employee to present to the second most powerful woman in the company. I had to learn how to present at any level, inside and outside the company, without hesitation.
๐ฑ. ๐๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐.
Your team looks good, you look great. The best leaders showcased and highlighted their teamโs work early and frequently.
๐ฅ What would you add to the list on how to speak as a leader? Iโd love to know.
