destination

I've been working at the same company for 11 years. In the days of building widgets that many years in a factory wasn't very long. Today the factories are largely gone and products are developed by the creative process. 11 years tenure in this kind of environment is more unusual. What keeps me at my company? I've been fortunate enough to have managers that put me in an environment where I could create. They gave me the space I needed to do my best work. Now that I'm in management, I do the same for the people who work with me. I do my best to prepare their workspace. It's my responsibility to plow the field so they can sow the seeds. I point out the destination and provide an environment where creative people can draw the map. Simon Sinek has written a book Start with Why. He writes about leadership. Almost all people can describe what we do. Some of those people can describe how we do it. But very few people can tell you why we do what we do. The best leaders start with why. When you start with why like minded people want to follow you. As a leader it is my job to inspire my team with a destination - the why. I then provide them with the support they need to tell me how we will get there. To do this I try to create an environment for success. I make sure I provide the tools and needed support, and leave adequate space for them to work in. I am not looking for face time or long hours on the job. I'm looking at the benefit of their creations, and the value they provide in getting us to our destination.