For Your Career, the Leader Trumps the Organization

Happy Friday,

No matter how big and impressive your organization is, your boss largely determines how much of it ever becomes relevant to your career.

A great leader will see your potential, try to connect you to challenging projects, advocate for your growth and opportunities, and open doors to stretch assignments, mentorships, and visibility across the organization. They'll translate an organization’s capabilities into your personal runway for advancement.

That requires a leader to make the effort, but leaders are very busy, too. So with limited time, there's a built-in personal disincentive to divert attention to your career and carve out time to act on your behalf. The incentive for most leaders is to do the things that MUST be done and will get noticed if they're not.

Great leaders are valuable because, despite these time challenges and personal incentives, they do pay attention and they do make the effort.

When you find a leader like that, stick with them. It’s not the size of the organization. Ninety percent of the offices, projects, and capabilities of a large firm are likely to remain irrelevant to your career, no matter what. What will have an impact is a leader who regularly prioritizes the careers of the people they lead, not just their own.

Punchline: When you’re evaluating potential roles (or reflecting on your current one), look beyond the brand name. Probe the leader: Do they develop people? Do they share credit and spotlight? Do their teams thrive and progress? Finding a great leader is a solid career strategy, and one that matters more to your career than the mass of the organization.

Have a GREAT weekend,

Dave

Feedback and blowback are always welcome: dave@goodnewsfriday.com

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