My three words for 2017

The three words are a mantra to guide my behaviors and actions in 2017.

2017 is my first year being a manager. I am Director of Research at OnFrontiers. For the first time in my work life, my results are a consequence of my team’s work and output, not of mine.

In previous years, they would have been around focus, discipline, and working hard.

My three words:

Connect

Connecting with people, or networking, has always been important in my career. As a manager, it is even more important.

Connecting includes regularly meeting talented people to hire and learning from other managers. It is also a reminder to go beyond myself when encountering problems and decisions. To get and give help to my friends. Finally, it means to write and to connect through my words and ideas.

Lead

A reminder that my job is no longer to produce the most, but to lead my team to produce results.

There are no bad teams, only bad leaders.

Jocko Willink in Extreme Ownership

Energy

Having high energy makes me happy and effective. Also, my energy, attitude, and actions affect my team’s.

There’s no alarm clock for the sleepy man like an early rising manager; and there’s nothing breeds work in an office like a busy boss.

Notes from Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His Son by George Horace Lorimer

Optimizing my energy includes nutrition, fitness, sleep, and mental and emotional health.

It’s August 2017. I guess you make these in January? Who cares!

Ideas for your 3 words?

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This post is inspired by Chris Brogan’s Three Words.

photo credit: Connect by John Westrock