I didn’t go to college—well, not in the same way people do in the U.S.—it’s a whole thing here!
Let me take you back to little 18-year-old Neen, hoping to get into the journalism and communications program I wanted to study at university (that’s what they call college in Australia, or Uni for short… because Aussies are lazy with our language and we shorten everything).
Opening the official envelope, I looked down at the number and burst into tears, totally devastated! I didn’t get the score needed to get into the program. I was 20 points short—20-freaking-points—no do-overs. It was final.
While I would go on to complete my Master of Business Administration MBA (without an undergraduate degree … but that is a story for another day), years later, I felt proud graduating—but still felt the sting of opening that envelope and feeling dumb and devastated. Perhaps that doesn’t leave you? Has that ever happened to you? You got a number you didn’t want?
Numbers don’t define us. Numbers for college, on a scale, for salary, in our bank account, on our blood tests, our age, or even our zip code. Numbers don’t define us—but they can influence our decisions and direction.
This seems especially relevant as we watch the young people in our world navigate this season of change.
If you went to college, do you remember your college days? That exhilarating, terrifying mix of potential and uncertainty? The fear of failure or the joy in a hard-earned accomplishment? Leadership follows a similar journey, but with one crucial difference—there’s no graduation ceremony at the end.
The First 100 Days: Find Your Footing
Just like those initial awkward weeks on campus, your leadership journey begins with that essential “who’s who in the zoo” phase. You’re mapping the organizational landscape, conducting a listening tour, and figuring out where the metaphorical dining hall is located.
Strategy for you: Create a stakeholder map in your first month. Identify key players, their priorities, and potential allies. This visual roadmap will help you navigate your new terrain with confidence.
Establish Your Rhythm
As the novelty wears off, you settle into your leadership routine—regular check-ins, strategic planning sessions, and development opportunities. Like a student mastering their course schedule, you’re learning to balance operational demands with strategic thinking.
Strategy for you: Block “thinking time” in your calendar daily. Leadership requires reflection, not just reaction. Protect this space religiously, even when the pressure mounts.
Conduct a Performance Review
Unlike college, where professors grade your papers, leadership puts you center stage during board meetings, earnings calls, and quarterly updates. Your performance is publicly scrutinized in ways that can make final exams seem like a walk in the park.
Strategy for you: Create a personal dashboard of 3-5 metrics that matter most to your success. Review them weekly so performance conversations become opportunities to showcase progress rather than moments of surprise. Each year, I take myself to a fabulous restaurant to conduct my performance review to review goals versus actual performance—if you own your own company, that could be something you could do too.
Graduate or Celebrate?
Here’s where leadership diverges from college—there’s no graduation ceremony, no definitive moment when you’ve “made it.” Leadership is perpetual learning, constant adaptation, and endless growth.
Strategy for you: Create your own celebration rituals. It could be acknowledging quarterly wins with your team or taking time annually to reflect on your evolution as a leader. Don’t wait for someone to hand you a cap and gown.
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