FROM THE PRESIDENT
Laura Last
Let me tell you something about myself: I think a lot about leadership. That probably isn’t surprising.
I think you should think a lot about leadership too.
Naturally, leadership is on my mind a lot because of the work I do with BeOne Medicines and for LTEN. But my connection to leadership goes deeper than job performance: As learning professionals, we all must be leaders as well.
That’s where you come in.
No matter where you are in your career, whether you’re just starting out or almost finishing up, leadership is one of your job priorities. You might not have official leadership responsibilities, but your role as a trainer puts you in a position of authority.
Learners look to you to deliver new skills and opportunities. Teammates look to you to knowledgeably perform your job duties. Partners look for your support, clients look for your expertise… and so on. Every link in a chain is as crucial as the others.
Leadership isn’t usually about title. Of course, some leaders have more strategic duties and some are more tactical, but they all share the same goals and objectives and face comparable challenges.
On some level, anyone can lead — in any role, in any organization. Learning professionals, however, have a responsibility to lead.
I’m sure you’ve seen it in your own careers, and you probably remember the other side from your student days. Learners look to us as mentors and guides, a fact that brings you a duty to lead. It’s an almost sacred trust that has you sharing the tools, procedures and knowledge to build a lifetime of success for an individual and their families.
It’s no wonder we strive to be our best, even when that means we again become students of another trusted leader. There’s a lot riding on the job performance of any educator, and when the education is tied to someone’s career and earning abilities, the pressure becomes that much greater.
That’s why learning professionals continually learn. We attend conferences, webinars, workshops, mixers and events, to learn and to make connections that lead to new knowledge.
Staying sharp, even as tools, technology and time change, is a leader’s most important challenge.
In their book “The Leadership Challenge,” authors Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner laid out five best practices for being a successful leader. Following these guidelines lets you live up to the responsibility your position puts on your plate.
Model the way: Do what you say you will do. “Do as I say, not as I do” doesn’t get anyone anywhere.
Inspire a shared vision: See and share exciting possibilities for the future. Part of leading is having somewhere to go, and followers to go with you.
Challenge the process: Empower others to take initiative and experiment. Again, leaders are everywhere. Make sure everyone is empowered to innovate.
Enable others to act: Foster collaboration and build up others. “Teamwork makes the dreamwork” is cliché for a reason — fostering collaboration should be a trainer’s natural habit.
Encourage the heart: Celebrate others by showing gratitude. A little recognition goes a long way. Always show your gratitude for the hard work of others — it means so much and is so easy to do!
This month, I’ll be joining a large select group of senior leaders in life sciences organizations at the Learning Executive Forum in Chicago. From our conversation will come new approaches, new innovations and new energy as we all strive to grow ourselves, our teams and our companies. I look forward to sharing as we all move ahead.
Leadership may seem like a lofty ambition, but it’s more manageable when you think of it as part of your everyday duties. Those in your circle of influence will appreciate the confidence and competence that come from the right attitude and from putting the five leadership practices in place.
It’s a given in training that people will look up to you, just as you will look up to others. Remembering that goes a long way toward ensuring you live up to the honor.
Laura Last is executive director, head of global talent development and enterprise learning for BeOne Medicines USA (formerly BeiGene USA), and president of the LTEN Board of Directors. Email Laura at laura.last@beonemed.com or connect through linkedin.com/in/lalast.
