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Leading from behind
Even if you’re at the lower rungs of the org chart, there are plenty of opportunities for meaningful acts of leadership.
N avigating the first years in a workplace can sometimes feel like binge-watching a season of Game of Thrones . If you don’t keep up with the popular fantasy drama, let’s just say there are a lot of casting changes, confusion, conflict, and the occasional fire-breathing dragon. Same thing with a new job: Who is that new person? What’s their role? Will I report to them in some way? Why is that intern better than me at that task? Tom took another job?
Chad Coldiron
up with long-distance relationships is often easier than keeping up with our neighbors these days. ❚ ❚ Leadership out of the office. How often do your leaders travel? If the answer is often, then you have a great opportunity to lead the pack from behind. Take advantage of your time in the office with your See CHAD COLDIRON, page 12 “With constant changes happening in the workplace, it can be hard for a young employee to find their voice ... But there are certainly things a young employee can do, like first learning about the firm’s leadership culture.”
With constant changes happening in the workplace, it can be hard for a young employee to find their voice – or even the project accounting department. But there are certainly things a young employee can do, like first learning about the firm’s leadership culture. I’m not saying someone has to emulate every principal they meet, but they should at least try to understand the tenets their success was built upon. You’ll find out they weren’t always the leaders they are today and that they found their own opportunities to lead along the way. Here are some opportunities that almost anyone in today’s AEC industry will run across. ❚ ❚ Working with a remote team. We’re more connect- ed than ever and developing the skills to work inde- pendently or with a remote team is an area where younger professionals can lead by example. Keeping
THE ZWEIG LETTER April 1, 2019, ISSUE 1290
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