Lessons worth Repeating

I recently came across a wonderful article by Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a professor at the Harvard Business School who shared five lessons from 2010 that she believes are worth repeating. These professional development words of wisdom will stand the test of time so consider them as you move forward this year and beyond.

1. Surprises are the new normal. Resilience is the new skill. Back-up plans are strategic assets and minimizing a crisis doesn’t cut it (à la the BP oil spill!) so it helps to have leaders who are energizers because their positive spirit can keep things moving.

2. Innovation takes courage and the willingness to be out front rather than following the herd. The creativity to produce innovation can involve a great deal of improvisation rather than a fixed script. It also takes dedication.

3. Straight-line careers are over-rated. Zig-zaggers are in and might better serve companies and leaders. When change is ubiquitous, stepping outside of familiar territories (fields, geographies, or industries) can provide new insights and perspectives, especially for emerging opportunities. It’s also ok to take learning pauses to prepare for next steps.

4. Openness and inclusion should be the new standards. Closed circles of elites can reinforce dysfunctional behavior. Including people from formerly excluded groups can add perspectives that surface problems earlier that can lead to resolution. The power goes to the Connectors who bring new ideas and information across groups.

5. Forget privacy, especially if you are a leader. Leaders are always on and in this technology driven era, so are the microphones and video cameras. Even for the non- or emerging leaders – be aware of your public and online persona and what image you want to project.