{"id":24027,"date":"2021-03-31T11:23:22","date_gmt":"2021-03-31T15:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourpublicservice.org\/?p=24027"},"modified":"2021-08-05T17:38:08","modified_gmt":"2021-08-05T21:38:08","slug":"four-lessons-that-shaped-my-path-to-the-senior-executive-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourpublicservice.org\/blog\/four-lessons-that-shaped-my-path-to-the-senior-executive-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Four lessons that shaped my path to the Senior Executive Service"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Leaders must take responsibility for people, money and things\u2014how they do it makes all the difference and distinguishes between less-than-great and great public servants. \u00a0I think back\u00a0on\u00a0my 15-year career as a civil servant, including in the Senior Executive Service, and am grateful for\u00a0two things:\u00a0the meaningful relationships I cultivated\u00a0and\u00a0the important lessons I\u00a0learned.\u00a0With a little planning and a whole lot of luck, these two factors helped me become a senior executive leader and will certainly continue to shape my professional journey. Here are four major lessons I learned about leadership and relationship-building over the course of my public service career. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work hard\u00a0and plan for professional achievement<\/em>.<\/strong>\u00a0I rose\u00a0from an entry-level position to a career senior executive within my first 10 years of working in government. I am often asked how I achieved such a feat so quickly.\u00a0Though clich\u00e9d, my response is usually, \u201cHard work, prayer and perseverance.\u201d But\u00a0truthfully,\u00a0there\u2019s more to it. Not long ago, I was cleaning out some old files and came across a document titled, \u201cMy Executive Core Qualifications,\u201d a one-page self-assessment of my experience and expertise I crafted just a few months into my civil service career.\u00a0The document helped me establish a plan to grow and advance my career\u00a0to become a member of the Senior Executive Service from the outset.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understand how to deal with disappointment, criticism and adversity<\/em>. <\/strong>While serving in government, I worked for\u2014and with\u2014outstanding members of our military who on many separate occasions reminded me that I should always strive to be better. Early in my career, I was not selected for a team-lead position for which I believed I was qualified and well-suited. Afterward, one of those outstanding military members told me, \u201cYou are a diamond in the making, but you are not there yet. You have yet to experience the kind of pressure needed to become a gem.\u201d Those words were a revelation. They taught me that we may not view ourselves as others do, and that how you respond to disappointment, criticism and adversity is important. When I wasn\u2019t selected for that position, I took on a less-than-positive attitude and wanted those around me to know that I was disappointed. Today, I better understand how responding the right way to setbacks can inform\u2014and show others that you are ready to embrace\u2014new opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Value your (and others\u2019) time\u2014personally and professionally. <\/em><\/strong>\u201cI couldn\u2019t wake up and get to work on time.\u201d Sadly, these were my own words overheard by someone in a leadership position. That person later offered me some advice: \u201cEvery decision is a choice, and every choice has a consequence.\u201d It would be early, technically morning but still dark outside, yet that was no excuse. As a result of my choice\u2014to arrive at work late\u2014my colleague began picking me up every morning so I could get to the office on time. What followed was a lasting friendship, and a great deal of valuable guidance on why it is important to be early and honor other people\u2019s time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lead a career (and life) that positively impacts others<\/em>. <\/strong>During my time in government, I learned from one mentor who exhibited integrity and accountability, humility and humor, and competence and confidence. He knew the name of nearly every person in the organization\u2014which had upward of 3,000 employees\u2014appreciated cultural diversity, and embraced all leaders and the key issues they considered most valuable. This public servant taught me to lead by example and with purpose to impact others. I intend to take a similar approach as I continue my leadership journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone\u2019s leadership path\u00a0is different. There is no \u201cright\u201d path and no \u201cbetter\u201d journey.\u00a0What you learn along the way and impart to others is most important. Below, I offer several recommendations on how you can grow into a senior executive leader, maybe as a member of the Senior Executive Service, in your organization:<\/p>\n\n\n\n