10 Leadership Tips You Can Use Right Now

I'm always looking for ways to be in the presence of local leaders who have practical insights and experience to share.

Today I was at the Medical Alley Women's Leadership Luncheon at Midland Hills Country Club. 

The Medical Alley Association www.medicalalley.org is a Minnesota state-based member organization serving the health technology community. Medical Alley is home to the world's most concentrated health technology cluster made up of medical device, biopharmaceutical, diagnostic and digital health industry leaders. The Association's membership and supporting community extends throughout the world, employing more than 300,000 Minnesotans and many more globally. 

There were 126 women leaders in the room! The leadership luncheon has a tradition of having each leader introduce herself prior to the speaker's presentation. The level of talent and experience was impressive to say the least.

---

​Mojdeh Poul, President, 3M Infection Prevention Division, was the speaker. 

She shared with us her ten leadership insights that have propelled her career. They include:

1.    Curiosity & Insight: 
Leaders must be curious and seek insights in order to keep up with the speed of change and complexities in the ever changing and dynamic landscape.
2.    Clear Vision & Strategic Imperatives: 
Set a vision for your organization early on. It doesn't need to be perfect. Put a stake in the ground so people know where they are heading and refine as you go.
3.    Right Leaders in the Right Roles:
It's better to leave a position open than to hire the wrong leader. Try to find the right person for the right business challenge/opportunity.
4. Agility: 
We operate in an uncertain and complex business environment, with a rapid pace of technology change, so you need to be agile. 
5. Disciplined Prioritization:
Seek to turn the complex into the simple. Know that you will work with resource constraints, so prioritization is a must. You then need to flawlessly execute those priorities.
6. Authenticity, Integrity, Humility:
Have respect for yourself and others. Determine the legacy you want to leave. What do you want others to remember about you when you are gone?
7. Courage & Resilience:
Have a winning mindset. Know there is always a way to get things done. Things will go wrong. Be prepared for it. 
8. Stretch Beyond Comfort Zone:
Stretch beyond what is comfortable for you. Don't get complacent.
9.   Strong Networks:
Right internal and external connections are important. Most people can do better here. 
10. Taking Your Business Personally:
Be passionate about and accountable for your business. 

The audience asked questions following the presentation. One of the questions that fascinated me was about handling emotions. Mojdeh turned to one of her colleagues for their perspective about how they see her handling emotions. Her colleague said, 

---

"Be direct. Mojdeh is direct so we always know what she's thinking and the 
expectations she has. When you are direct, people don't have to guess. 
It keeps the emotion down. Emotion goes up when people are guessing."

​Have a great week!