susan cheney's top 10 lessons from my career[1]

8/6/2019 Susan Cheney's Top 10 Lessons From My Career[1]

1/12

Susan CheneysSusan CheneysTop TenTop Ten

Lessons From MyLessons From MyCareer Career


2/12

10. Take the time to write well.

Susan Cheneys Top TenLessons From My Sprint Career

Write to confirm and clarify.

Write to remember. Write to praise and say thank you. Write so people can refer to it again and again. Rememberthe best speech you ever give will be forgotten by most of your audience within seconds of your finishing. But your worst writing willlive forever.

Your good name will be tarnished by bad writing, so write well. Also remember: email is NOT a substitute for something you dont havethe courage to say in person.


3/12

9 . Its not who you know, its what youaccomplish.


actions speak louder than words

I dont believe in networking. I never have. I dont call people on myRolodex to check in and keep my name in front of them, nor do Iappreciate people who do. My friends dont work for Sprint.

I got each successive job because somebody in another department sawme accomplish something in my previous job.

If you want to get ahead, put your head down, do a great job &accomplish great things. People will notice.

Dont focus on the next job you are going for too much. Peoplearound you will question your motives


4/12

8 . Executive leadership is about two things:Direction and Development.


What made you successful up to now will get in your way in your executiverole. Youre not a DOer anymore.

Chiefly, an executives role lies in two key areas: direction & development.

Direction - People need to know where theyre going and whytheyre going there.

Development - Find the right people. Invest in your people.Listen to them. Teach them. Trust them with important stuff.It pays dividends over and over.

Never lose sight of a key objective---promote someone who you can work for one day


5/12

7 . Create a compelling picture of the desiredfuture state and describe it to anyone who

will listen. A lot.


Once youve figured out the direction, develop a stump speech and giveit every time you see a stump with some of your people standing around it.

Your stump speech must:

paint a clear picture of where youre going, describe a plausible path to getting there, and most importantly... it must be a place that people want to go to, despite the

comfort of where they are now.


6/12

6 . Assume youre in charge and the decisionis yours to make unless youve explicitly been

told no.


There is a world of difference between this philosophy and itsopposite: assuming you cant, unless somebody says you can. Assumingyes opens a world of possibilities.

Dont leave a fumbled football lying on the ground. Assume that it wasleft there for you pick it up and run with it.

So question the assumptions youve been given. Make up new ones.Learn by doing.

Create your recommendation in such a compelling way that no one cansay no to you.


7/12


5 . Encourage the hearts of the people you lead -their minds and deeds will quickly follow.

If youre going after your peoples intellect first, youre missing themark by about 18 inches every time.

Visibly recognize peoples contributions. A few thank you notesand a little public praise go a long way.

Celebrate successes. Even little ones. Have fun. Everybody likes fun. Wear a lampshade on your head or don a chicken suit. It shows youre human.

Love your customers. Love the people who do the work. Love theaccomplishments of the organization. Theyll love you back. It fillsyour tank to press on.

Love em and lead em or else you will lose em..


8/12


4 . Strategy without execution is a pipe dream.The devil is in the details, but so are the rewards.

I have never been rewarded for having dreamed up a great plan, eventhough thats the part I really like to do. Rather, Ive been rewarded forexecuting a great plan and delivering the results promised.

Make a decision and do something. If nobody seems to be in charge,assume you are.

Collaborative decision making is best, but if its taking too long to getthere and you feel you have at least 8 0% of the information you need, gowith your gut and decide. Remember, one of your primary roles as anexecutive is providing direction.

Adopt a long-timers mentality. See your plan through to completion so itis producing superior results long after youre off doing something else.

Finish well. Attend to the details. Leave a legacy of success for the nextguy.


9/12


3 . Be positive and optimistic. No whining is allowed for the leader, especially in public.

Go away or lock yourself away if you arent up to playing the positive role

Optimism multiplies organizational energy. Pessimism, or cynicism (often legitimized as realism) drains organizationalenergy.

If you havent tried this, you should. People want to follow a leader who believes in what he or she isdoing. Dont you?

Give me the unrealistic aspirations of the optimist over the grimlitany of the realist any day.

My guess is that your people feel that way too.


10/12


2 . Work is temporary. Family is forever.The work/family balance issue. Remember the game of life.

Sure I worked a lot of hours, just like you. But I made time for myfamily. You can too.

Put the important family stuff on your business calendar first and buildaround it. Sometimes youll miss an occasional school play or a big game,but if you make this a priority youll make 8 0% of them.

Theres always a crisis going on at work. Its always crunch time.Theres always a big meeting that cant be missed. Miss it. Well getalong without you for a couple of hours or a day here or there.

Be there for your family. They need you, too.

Your employees will respect you as a real person---someone to aspire to.


11/12

Susan Cheneys Top Ten

Lessons From My Sprint Career

1. Integrity matters.

Your reputation is your most important asset.

You can teach skills; you cant teach character.

Trust is hard to gain and easy to lose.

Once its lost, its almost impossible to get back.

Do the right thing every time.

Avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

Be someone other people respect and know they can count on.


12/12

Susan Cheneys Top TenLessons from My Sprint Career

1. Integrity matters.2 . Work is temporary. Family is forever.

3 . Be positive and optimistic.4 . Strategy without execution is a pipe dream.

5 . Encourage the hearts of the people you lead - theirminds and deeds will quickly follow.6 . Assume youre in charge and the decision is yours to

make unless youve explicitly been told no.7 . Create a compelling picture of the desired future

state and describe it to anyone who will listen. A lot.8 . Executive leadership is about two things:

Direction and Development.9 . Its not who you know, its what you accomplish.

10. Take the time to write well.

susan cheney's top 10 lessons from my career[1]

Documents