Patricia Faison Hewlin

I was told to develop relationships across all levels, not just with people above you in higher ranks. Yes, developing relationships with those in higher positions is important, but developing relationships at all levels is critical - people who report to you, or people who may not be on the same hierarchical level but work in another division. One of my mentors would say, relationships determine your destiny. I have had people from all walks of life and skill sets and in different contexts where I've worked, where I've received advice and critical information. I can think of one particular person who was an administrative assistant for someone else, not even working on my particular project, and she shared very important information that I needed. Understanding that those relationships are important and that we should not just focus on those who are on the top of the hierarchical level has been invaluable to me.

I would say be very aware of what is happening in organizations - the most important challenges that are occurring within one's immediate environment, whether it's AI, whether it's emotional intelligence, or authenticity. Take time to consider solutions. We live in a world where we have a lot to say about problems, but we need more solutions that can help leaders and employees in general flourish in the work that they do. As we are mindful of the critical events, the challenges, those thorny issues that are happening in the workplace, we should not shy away from them, but engage in them in order to develop solutions. I would also say be open to developing your leadership skills.

As a researcher who's been studying authenticity for a very long time, I have interviewed hundreds of people and administered surveys to thousands of managers and employees internationally. What I have been finding over the years is that people are struggling between balancing conforming to a given environment versus being authentic. Those who are most successful with finding that balance tend to have a really high level of well-being and peace of mind. I just wrote a book about that coming out in August called Staying True to You. In this book, I help readers understand how to identify those most important values and bring those into the forefront of contexts. These values don't have to be all that one holds, but the most relevant values to a given context. In so doing, you can thrive in those values and be able to acknowledge the context that one is in. I help readers understand how to assess a situation and identify which values are most important. I call that being in the middle self, having that right balance that protects one's personal integrity as well as giving one a peace of mind.

I value integrity. I have learned a long, long time ago that integrity is our greatest protector, and that's really important. Having come out of the field of banking, where integrity is really critical because you're managing other people's money, it's important to build trust among your clients as well as your employees. Being able to truly walk the talk has been critical for me.