I have been fortunate to accompany a number of executives through distinct phases of their career span. Becoming a trusted advisor to one preparing for the last chapter in their professional career, after having served as their coach earlier in their career, is deeply rewarding.
As a psychologist and coach, phases of leadership evolution in the context of personality and skill evolution interests me. Looking at leadership evolution in phases helps us reflect on decisions we’ve made, lessons we’ve learned about being a successful leader, and how to prepare for what comes next. As a manager of talent, phase development helps identify appropriate training, guidance and coaching to elevate and grow team and individual leadership skill.
I suggest 5 distinct phases to consider. Having said that, there is often considerable overlap when moving from one phase to the next.
Phase I : Survival (Early 20’s)
You are simply trying to keep your head above water in an entry level job that hopefully marks the beginnings of financial independence.
You are identifying your work interests and skills and have your first hands-on experiences of the matrix of business: people and organizational systems.
Key Lessons:
- Situational awareness—who is who and how do they operate within the system?
- Balance openness with diplomacy and caution as you learn to be a good employee.
- Begin experiencing and learning about the dynamics of trust.
Phase II – Learning (25-40s)
You are acquiring and finessing your professional and leadership skills and learning about life’s currencies (material and relational). You are refining professional ambitions and goals.
Key Lessons:
- Learn from others’ experiences. Find your leadership and skill mentors. Begin constructing your resources for leadership learning and growth.
- Develop the self-discipline necessary to realize your ambitions and goals.
- Self-awareness — address the demons that limit your leadership effectiveness.
Phase III – Being / Doing / Building (40-60s)
This is your greatest phase of productivity, and it can often feel all consuming. You are actively building your career and managing business through constant interaction, planning, execution and evaluation. You learn the importance of method, consistency, diligence, and relationship management. You learn how to discern priorities and make trade-offs.
You begin to evaluate how and if you are making a difference in your profession.
Key Lessons:
- Your success hinges on the success of your team. Collaboration and cooperation is key.
- You learn to seek feedback and make a habit of tracking lessons learned.
- Communication is everything, but actions speak louder than words.
- Recognize the importance of balance: Being as gentle and empathic as possible while being as firm and direct as necessary.
Phase IV – Sharing / Reflection (50s+)
You are beginning to think about legacy and succession planning. You apply your strategic skills to looking at the organization’s ongoing success in your absence. You plan how to share what you have learned over the course of your career for the benefit of the next generation. This can be one of the most revelatory and rewarding phases of your professional life or one of the worst if you don’t let go.
Key Lessons:
- Connections and relationships matter enormously both in business and life.
- Continuing to modeling ethics, honesty, transparency, delegation, dignity, humility, gratitude and humor as powerful attributes in being a successful and impactful leader.
Phase V – Saying Goodbye / Leaving (65+)
If you have not psychologically prepared for transitioning out of your professional career, this can be a painful phase. However, if you exit grateful for all accomplished throughout your career, and don’t place an emotional burden on others, you can accomplish this phase with grace and little suffering.
Key Lessons:
- Remain grateful for your long career, relationships and mentors.
- Maintain a positive and hopeful attitude towards the unknown.
Phases within Phases
By recognizing these phases and their inevitable overlap, one can better understand where she is, focus on what behaviors and thoughts will most help her, and craft both a better experience and a brighter future for ourselves and those around us.
Elevate your Leadership Potential
To learn more about the evolution of leadership and executive coaching, reach out to Nora for a consultation.