DEC 18 - JAN 19HR TECH OUTLOOK8Eight Lessons inLeadershipOne day, while using a new lab instrument, a scanning spectrophotometer, I noticed the lab procedure had recorded the wavelength reading at the shoulder of the analysis curve instead of at its peak. That didn't make sense so I asked Tom, my boss, why. Tom's research found a typographical error. Two numbers were reversed. The reading should have been at the peak. Tom took the credit for finding the error, instead of sharing a bit of praise with me.Leadership Lesson Number 1:Give credit and recognize your employees for their contributions if you want to keep them engaged and retained.Leaving Tom's management style was an easy decision, and I took a job at a heavy-equipment manufacturer company. Here, a direct reporter named Bob taught me the most about leading people during this part of my career. Bob was highly regarded at the company as a subject matter expert. Bob's credentials gave him the ability to say things others were afraid to voice.Leadership Lesson Number 2:We are all human beings, regardless of position. No one is any better than another because of their role at the company. Everyone deserves respect and enjoys conversation.Leadership Lesson Number 3:Keep the message short and simple. Sure, it's more difficult to eliminate trade lingo and acronyms, but the results are worth the effort.In the late `80s, I joined a specialty chemical company in St. Louis.How often have your heard the words "they did it" or "they weren't thinking when they came up with that!"This become apparent to me while facilitating a team meeting during which our group had quite a debate over a Sharon Gietl, VP-IT & CIO, The Doe Run CompanyByIn MyOpinion
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