This week, I was asked, “What is the best piece of career advice you have ever received?”
In 2012, I was a young management consultant working for a department headed by a charismatic leader. I was trying to develop project proposals that would help me drive efficiencies in his business area. In one meeting, I pushed hard one of my business proposals, stating a big ticket of outcomes. If you do this project, we can save $1 million every year. If you do this project, we can land the rocket on the moon, blah blah blah. You get the drift.
I had resistance from one of his senior managers, who pushed back on that proposal. Every time I went into a meeting, I would brace myself for this manager to push back on everything I said. I saw him as an adversary and a blocker.
Once, the department head took me and his manager into a meeting with senior leadership colleagues to present that very same proposal. Before heading into the meeting, the senior manager pulled me into an empty conference room.
I was puzzled and nervous. I was worried he would tell me that the project was doomed for failure and that he would not be supportive.
He told me, “Shirisha, you overpromise on the outcomes. I want you to remember to underpromise and over-deliver.
If you want this proposal signed off, mention all the previous outcomes you have achieved. No one will give you the project because of the expected outcomes, even if they look attractive on paper.
They want to know that a capable person is doing this project and that she has the expertise. You are an outstanding project manager. I know that you can deliver outcomes.
So under-promise with this project, and speak to your outcomes in the other projects. So when you over-deliver, the impact on this project will be magnified.
We will back you on this project, so you don’t worry. ”
The conversation left me with a warm feeling in my heart. That was the first time I had the experience of a colleague who promised to have my back. And this colleague had my back every single time we worked together. We have had our disagreements. We would argue in every single meeting. He never gave me an easy time when it came to executing my projects. He was relentless and exacting, but he always had my back.
Along with giving me important career advice, he also demonstrated to me that you can disagree with a colleague but still respect each other and have her back.
He taught me the most important lesson in my career: that you can disagree without making the other person an adversary.
What’s the best piece of career advice you have ever received?
P.S. If you are ready to level up, work with me for 1:1 career coaching. Hit reply, and I’d love to share more.
💌 Siri
