Young Executives' Wisdom

Introduction

The 6 finalists in the AFR Boss Magazine's Young Executives reflected on advice given to them by mentors, bosses, parents and colleagues.

The 6 key ones identified:

i) perfection is the enemy of good (sometimes there is no time to find the perfect solution and/or get complete information; need to be careful of not being trapped in the detail)

ii) be calm (this means never lose your temper; control your stress levels; don't blame other people; remember
"...Calmness is the cradle of power..."
Shaun Bonett as quoted by Sally Patten, 2022d)

iii) be vulnerable (be authentic; be transparent; show your inner self; seek feedback; get a mentor/executive coach, etc)

iv) play the long game (don't let the 'ups and downs' of short-term negatively impact you; be prepared to try new approaches; be resilient)

v) treat everyone as an individual (we each have our own idiosyncrasies that need to be understood, ie
"...devote the time and energy to find out who they are and what makes them tick. This will allow you to tailor solutions to their needs..."
Matt Freeman as quoted by Sally Patten, 2022d)

vi) embrace uncertainty (go for an environment that embraces creativity and ambiguity rather than a highly structured, process-driven one where there are clear expectations of what is needed and how people should work).