Leadership Lessons I Learned from My Clients

If you went to college or pursued an advanced degree, you have probably heard lots of people tell you that real education doesn’t happen in school.

Some will tell you that, in order to really learn anything of value, you need to travel and see the world.  Others will tell you that real knowledge comes from taking your lumps.

Actually, knowledge can come from everyone you meet and everything you read if you approach the world through the eyes of a student.
Sharing and living with house mates, hosting parties, and managing your own time are just a few of the everyday experiences from which you can learn a lot.  If you work in a leadership role, you can also learn a lot from your clients, especially if you work in an industry where your clients have a diverse range of educational backgrounds and life experiences.

These are five lessons about leadership (that I learned from my clients) that I would like to share with you.

1. Humility

Humility is the opposite of being a know-it-all.  It is openness to the ideas of others.  Many of my clients have traveled more than I have and have more education, but they still seek my advice as well as the advice of others.  Remember that innovation can as easily come from a kid living at home as from a Ph.D. or MBA.  Once you forget that, you lose your humility and leave yourself open to making all kinds of mistakes.

2. When Your Partners Succeed, You Succeed

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to look at your work as a contest between you and your partners.  It is a mistake to think that when they succeed, you fail.  Instead, invest in your partners’ success and work toward a corporate culture that encourages everyone to succeed.

3. Always Think About Your Clients’ Interest

In the field of education, teachers and administrators should make all their decisions based on what the outcome will be for their pupils.  Likewise, in other industries, think about how all your decisions will affect your clients.

4. Courage

Courage means not taking the easy way out.  It also means admitting when you made a mistake.

5. Help Others Succeed

Whether they are your employees or your clients, it is important to help others succeed.  Stepping on people does nothing except make people see you as an enemy.