What Type Of Person Thrives In The Public Service Industry, According To An Executive Director Of Leadership Development At San Francisco Government
Early in the career, a focus on perfect accuracy delayed progress; however, the interviewee learned the importance of collaboration and shared vision. The most successful approach involves assembling a skilled team, accepting that "we're gonna get some things wrong," and iteratively improving towards a shared goal, rather than striving for unattainable perfection in every detail.
Leadership, Teamwork, Vision, Iteration, Risk Management
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Linda Yeung
Executive Director, Leadership Development Program
City and County of San Francisco
University of California, Berkeley
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Masters of Law and Diplomacy
Spanish & Other Languages, Political Science, American Studies
Government & Public Sector
Human Resources (HR)
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Immigrant, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. It's okay to not be perfect; focus on collaboration and shared vision.
2. Learn to trust and utilize the strengths of others to achieve the best outcome.
3. Embrace iteration and continuous improvement; mistakes are inevitable and can be learning opportunities.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would've told you before you entered the industry?
Throughout my career, and I think for students at this stage, I was very much focused on things being a hundred percent correct. I would take as much time as I needed to go over materials, get it correct, and read it multiple times before feeling comfortable sharing my work.
I realized that while accuracy and preparation are important, it's also about being yourself and recognizing that diverse people working together lead to the best outcomes. Now, I focus more on tapping into smart, passionate people.
It's not about getting everything perfect, but about how we make all the pieces mesh together to get most of it right. There will be risks and we will get some things wrong, but as long as we don't repeat mistakes, the outcome is what matters.
I look for a shared vision, mission, and strategies for moving forward. It's less about pinpoint accuracy and details, because getting lost in those can alienate others.
I believe people who excel at sharing their vision, their positions, and their goals are invaluable. If you can articulate those effectively, we can then work out the details and the accuracies.
Everything is iterative; we will always make mistakes, but we will always continue to try to improve and move forward.
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