Be Grateful that you get to be a leader. “Grateful to whom?” you may ask. Good question. Certainly you should be grateful to those who helped you along the way and those who support you in your leadership position. The next question is how you demonstrate your appreciation. This part is a bit more complicated. One key way is to succeed. Those who have encouraged and backed you will relish your accomplishments. They may not always express their pleasure directly, but trust me, they are watching and are invested in your success. If you are lucky, you will at some point have the opportunity to receive acknowledgment from your advocates. But they are there nonetheless.
A second way to express Gratitude is through graciousness. This comes in two forms. The first is to be amicable, patient and generally accommodating to those around you, especially those who are lower on the ladder. Many of them want to be you. Show them what that means. You have the chance to be a role model. This does not mean, for the most part, flaunting your genius or business acumen for all to see. That should be apparent from your ascent on the org chart. But very importantly, you have the opportunity to demonstrate the respect and consideration that informs good leadership. You can show that what makes a leader is more than resume. It is the ability to inspire and empower others.
Later in your career, and especially after, there is another type of graciousness that you should not overlook. Once you are out of the limelight, you may be surprised at how quickly you seem to fade from people’s memories. It’s part of life. When you have moved on or retired many relationships will fade. This is not (necessarily) a reflection on you. When you have left an organization, your position will be filled by someone else. That person becomes the new cog. The teams, and the organization as a whole, move on. You need to do the same.
So what does this have to do with graciousness? Well, you will find that over time you will hear from former colleagues who would like support, perhaps advice, but more likely a job recommendation. These folks are not ingrates who are now looking for a handout. OK, some of them are. But many are those who remember your strong leadership and value your input as they continue to make their way through their careers. Treat them with the same consideration and empathy that led them to contact you in the first place. You will feel better about yourself, and you will have reinforced the impression that you left.
