What I've learned from our seasoned leaders during my time at Fishhook.

It's not always great being a Millennial. There are a lot of judgments and stereotypes that go along with living today as a 20-something, and honestly, most of them are negative. But I love my generation! I think most Millennials are thoughtful, caring and people-oriented. But like everyone, we have a lot to learn. That's why I'm super grateful to be part of the Fishhook team. We have a unique mix of young leaders and seasoned leaders who want to learn from each other. Over the last three years, here are the top five things I've learned from our seasoned leaders (also, I hate calling them that because it sounds like I'm talking about marinated steak ... but I couldn't think of anything else to call them). 

  1. The balance of humility and pants.
    In our team's culture, PANTS is a value. It basically means saying the tough things that need to be said. It's a unique value, and I've seen it play out in the leadership of our seasoned leaders time and time again. But it is always accompanied by humility. Before I worked here, it felt like you could either be humble OR not afraid to have difficult conversations. But what I've learned here is that it's possible, and actually best, to say the difficult things that need to be said with a spirit of humility. 

  2. Having fun is good ... and encouraged!
    I've only worked a few jobs in my life thus far, but I haven't found a workplace that encourages fun like Fishhook does. Our seasoned leaders are the first to find an excuse for a party or to pop into our offices for a good laugh. 

  3. Each person has unique gifts, and we should lean into them. 
    It seems obvious, but working at Fishhook has really brought this idea into new focus for me. Our seasoned leaders make it a priority to not only learn what a person is good at, but also what brings them to life and then help tailor a working environment that meets those needs. It's because of this that I believe we are able to get so much out of each employee. When people feel like who they are is really valued, they are willing to put in extra effort, and wait for it ... they actually like their job! 

  4. The important thing isn't that you never make mistakes. It's that you learn from the ones you make. 
    Early in my time at Fishhook, I had to learn a difficult lesson. Thankfully, the seasoned leaders here were there to help me through what could've been a very embarrassing situation for me and even for Fishhook as a whole. It was because people weren't hesitant to have a tough conversation that I learned a lot about who I was and the type of leader I wanted to be. The grace that was shown to me, and is continually shown to each person on our team from time to time, helps each of us become the best version of ourselves.

  5. Trust is something you can't manufacture.
    I would say that trust is the biggest thing I've learned from our seasoned leaders. I always knew it was important, but it's the way they've redefined my view of it that matters. It's not just that our team has a baseline of trust for one another, which we do. It's that deeply, truly, we trust each other. We trust each other with our clients, with our hopes and dreams, with our struggles and our shortcomings. We can come to work and be who we truly are because we trust that the people around us not only accept us as we are, but will help us grow. 

What would you add to this list? What are you learning from the seasoned leaders you work and serve with? What do you appreciate most about them?