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My 15 year #GC service recognition arrived in the mail in December. I have presented lots of long service awards, but this is the first I received. It caused me to reflect as yesterday was 20 yrs (excluding student&casual jobs) since I started in the GC. Sharing 20 lessons in a
1. The public service is small. We cross paths with the people we meet, collaborate with, work for, lead and serve many times in our career. Invest in those relationships, learn from those colleagues and be a connector helping others whose networks are not as diverse.
2. Engage with others outside your team by becoming part of a group that matters to you - new professionals, diversity, charitable campaign, managers, mental health&wellness and the list goes on. You will grow, give back, be challenged and meet lifelong colleagues and friends.
3. We spend a lot of time at work. Researching your new org/employer/team before accepting a position can make a difference in how you spend more than half of your waking hours. Employees are dedicated&loyal to their orgs and their leaders& they leave bad leaders&cultures.
4. It’s perfectly acceptable to decline an offer even when it is at a higher level, sometimes b/c it is at a higher level. Timing, life stage, balance, priorities, readiness, family reasons, health&happiness are all more important than a promotion. It’s easier to go up than down.
5. The impact a leader has on an employee and on their career may not be fully appreciated at the time but it is never forgotten. Paying it forward is one way to thank that leader. It’s also never too late to tell the person.
6. Reach out and say thank you. To team members who go the extra mile, to mentors and leaders who often don’t hear how much of a difference they make, to clients who have helped you learn, to colleagues who have your back. I may be biased but not much beats a hand written note.
7. Speak truth to power-be bold to say what needs to be said even when it is hard. There is reluctance to tell leaders the real deal-some want to prove they have it in hand, some worry about career limiting moves. Share risks, what others aren’t willing to say, be honest &brave.
8. Ensure there is fun and joy in every day. A laugh. A smile. Helping a colleague. Serving a client. Lifting someone up. Learning something new. A chat or email with someone you haven’t connected with for a bit.
9. Surround yourself with people who think, look&work differently than you. It’s easy to have people in your circle who think&agree with you but the real magic comes when we have voices/perspectives/approaches that complement us and our teams. Encourage&foster that environment.
10. Embrace change, because it is constant, but remember it is not easy and for some it is really really hard. See the opportunity. Ask questions, help people understand why it’s needed, why now and what’s in it for them.
11. Learn about yourself - preferences, styles, strengths, weaknesses &blind spots. Insights, LSI, DISC, Enneagram, Myers Briggs, 360 degree assessments, feedback from coaches & mentors. Share insight with your teams and learn about them. Be committed to continuous learning.
12.Commit to giving feedback. Real, honest, open feedback to help employees grow&to build new leaders. Most say they have never had real feedback/perf mgmt chats. Explain examples, behaviours&impacts. Create an envt where you encourage& welcome feedback&take it in. It’s a gift.
13. Deal with poor performance &toxic environments. Get help on this journey &make sure your leadership knows and supports you. Help people find a better fit if they are not in the right place. Foster a culture of inclusion, openness and accountability with clear expectations.
14.Get out of your comfort zone. Take the assignment, ask the question, sign up for the committee. You won’t regret it.
15.We can learn just as much from an outstanding leader as from one who is developing or struggling. The choice is ours in how we handle the experience.
16. Public servants do incredible work every day. We are who our neighbours, family, friends and fellow citizens see in action. We are mini ambassadors& need to share the stories of our colleagues who buy vaccines& PPE, protect our borders or process EI claims to name a few.
17. Few people leave their day with an empty inbox. There will always be more work&we need to decide what gets done, what doesn’t&when we stop. As leaders, employees see how much we do &are making decisions about whether they want to be in our positions. None of us wear capes.
18.Learn all you can in a role&level so you are ready for the next challenge. Never be defined by your level/role/title/team no matter how committed you are. We are all replaceable -when we move on, a new capable person will fill our shoes! Make sure they are set up for success.
19. Be kind to yourself&take care of your health. Self-care is essential&especially needed for those givers &empaths. Finding ways to rest, recover&recharge are critical. Culture&the way we use our devices can enable or impede balance. Everyone has different limits.
20. Be kind to others. Most are doing the best they can. Start w/ assuming that people are good&their intent is positive. Take time to listen, mentor, coach, share your journey. It’s your job to help others get a voice at the table - amplify and be an ally.
Thank you to all those who have helped me learn these lessons and more over the past 26 years since I started as a student at Parks Canada. I look forward to all the lessons still to come.
