Episode 19: Reflections on Developing Leadership Skills in Aspiring Young Professionals Part 1
November 7, 2024
Last week, I attended a gathering where a friend asked me about the biggest reward I've experienced in my 20 years of coaching students on case teams. My response usually emphasises the growth of students' soft skills. However, as I reflect on this chapter of my career with retirement from teaching approaching, my answer has evolved. This time, I found myself placing a greater emphasis on the growth of leadership skills. The longer I coach and prepare for the next chapter, the more I recognise that leadership skills are the most important soft skills, closely tied to all the other skills the students develop. Inspired by some of the top leadership voices on thought leadership on LinkedIn, I plan to focus on this topic in the upcoming weeks of the newsletter.
I would like to start this journey by highlighting four key elements that students need to cultivate to become strong future leaders. Although these elements are simple in concept, they require significant effort to develop and maintain as students transition into the workforce. When my teams begin working together, I often emphasise teamwork over content. During the team selection process, I ask candidates what role they usually take in a project group. More than 95% of the time, they respond by identifying themselves as a leader. When I probe further, asking what they mean by "leader," they typically describe it in terms of managing the group.
As we initiate the team-building process, I focus on the following four elements:
1. Speaking up and expressing your opinions.
2. Being flexible and willing to take on different roles.
3. Letting go and asking challenging questions.
4. Respecting your teammates.
The first two elements are integrated into the training process I encourage, while the last two are a result of that process. If students master this approach, they will enhance their ability in each of these areas.
Speaking Up and Expressing Your Opinion
I often describe case solving as a full-participation, full-contact sport. Teams are not only required to complete the work but also to gather everyone’s opinions on the issues presented in the case. It is essential to hear everyone’s thoughts, and it is perfectly fine if those thoughts clash. The diversity of ideas and differing perspectives enhances the value of the proposed solution and the details surrounding it.
Being Flexible and Willing to Take on Different Roles
When I build a team, I aim to create the best combination of skills for the specific focus of the competition, drawing from the available pool of candidates. Political factors are also at play, as I try to balance the necessary skills while allowing as many students as possible to benefit from these exceptional opportunities. While there is a plan for the roles that each student will take on, flexibility within that plan is crucial. Some cases may present opportunities that better suit certain students' experiences, and team members need to be flexible enough to recognise and embrace these changes, as they can improve overall performance.
Being Able to Let Go and Ask the Hard Questions
In case solving, this can be challenging since time is often limited to complete the required tasks. According to my process, which I described in an earlier newsletter, discussions about the solution occur first as a team after some individual reflection on the problem. Thus, the team process begins with the need to ask difficult questions.
Respecting Those You Work With
While many of my team members become friends, it is not a requirement. Some of my most successful teams are not necessarily "friends" but rather respect each other enough to stay in touch from time to time. They maintain a cordial relationship during social events. A lot can happen in the case resolution room that tests emotions, and this can continue into presentations and debriefs. Building respect takes time; it must be earned. Conversely, an individual’s actions at any given moment can negatively impact this respect.