LTYM - C-Level Work

Letters to a Young Manager

C-Level Work, #35
LTYM > Managing People II

Dear Adam,

***

I understand that you are reluctant to take on that new assignment. It's in an area that's not your strong suit.

I remember being faced with that in our consulting business. My partner asked my to take on a CIO advisory assignment with a Fortune 50 client. I balked. I hadn't been a CIO; how was I going to advise one?
"You're smart and have a ton of experience," he said, "and I'll help you out".
"But it's not my strong suit", I protested.
"What are you afraid of," he asked getting a bit exasperated with me?
"I don't think I would be at my best. ...And I don't like doing c-level work."
"Don't you realize that your c-level work is most people's a-level?"
I was stunned. First, for his vote of confidence, and opinion about my work. But when I thought about it years after, I was struck by how liberating a statement this was. He was saying, try your hardest and it will be great. It was Nike's "Just do it" personalized for me.

So give it a try. Remember, if there's no fear, there's no stretch, no learning.

***

I'm with you,
Ed

________________________

Takeaways:

One man's c-level work is another's a-level

Discussion Questions:

1) What assignments have you shied away from? Why?
2) Have you ever learned a new sport? What was the first few weeks like? Exhaustion, pain, falling down? What did it feel like after 6 months? Imagine if you didn't try?

For Further Reading:

1) Susan Jeffers, "Feel the Fear . . . and Do It Anyway," December 26, 2006.
2) Also see Scott Stabile, "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway," Huffington Post, June 26, 2014, "http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-stabile/feel-the-fear-and-do-it-a_1_b_5531854.html