I was just listening to a leadership podcast entitled “The Power of Apprenticeship” and I wanted to share some of the lessons from it.
In essence, there are three steps to successfully engaging in apprenticeship activities:
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1. Selecting
– when you see someone that makes you take notice, find a way to personally invest in them
– don’t worry about having a “favorite”; everyone knows there are all-stars that stand out
– don’t just look at your direct reports; consider reaching deep in the organization
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2. Modeling
– don’t just show what you do; show them who you are as a leader
– look for opportunities to have them see you in action
– don’t feel like you need to be an expert; just draw from your experience
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3. Coaching
– Feedback, feedback, feedback – look for opportunities to share your wisdom
– Model – here’s what I do
– Explain – here’s why I do it
– Demonstrate – here’s how I do it (this doesn’t mean they have to do it your way…they should feel free to innovate)
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Why wait until you’re gone and complain about the organization falling to pieces? Start pouring into the next generation of government leaders now and get the satisfaction of watching them grow and advance while you’re still around!
Are you (or will you start) apprenticing?
*** One way to give back is through the GovLoop Mentors Program: Learn more here. ***