Page 221 - HBR Leader's Handbook: Make an Impact, Inspire Your Organization, and Get to the Next Level

210 HBR Leader’s Handbook

Guiding principles for sharing yourself
Successful leaders like Dominic Barton, Roger Ferguson, and John Lund-
gren are in constant demand to advise or serve as volunteers for other or-
ganizations, just as they are in their own organizations to help younger
leaders with their own development. As you advance in your career, you
will experience increasing demand for help from others, too. You’ll be
forced to keep deciding when and how to step in and lend a hand to other
people and institutions, which you may consider for your own short- or
long-term interest, or because of some general sense of responsibility of
giving back or contributing to a societally valuable institution. Or, all of the
above.
How should you make these kinds of decisions as a leader? Where and
how much of your precious time should you give to others, beyond your
normal day-to-day work? Once again, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer,
but here are a few guiding principles to help you decide:

• Be selective, based on value. You’ll have to constantly weigh
when to say yes and when to say no to a sharing opportunity, but
structure your decision making around some clear and intentional
criteria. Evaluate the personal and professional value that you
might derive in making the contribution, whether learning, devel-
oping new networks, or undertaking some other developmental
experience, both short and long term. If there is no immediate
benefit for you and you still want to say yes, understand why you
think this is still a worthy investment (there’s no harm in helping
some greater good, but just recognize that’s what you’re really try-
ing to do). Be clear, also, about whether this opportunity calls on
your particular knowledge, skills, or relationships, and whether
offering those can really make a positive difference.

• Be focused enough to have impact. Unless you can give serious
attention to what’s being asked of you, it’s not worth surrendering
your time. It’s better to concentrate on a more limited group of
people and institutions where you can meaningfully contribute