Leadership lessons from “Year of Yes” by Shonda Rhimes
I started February 2020 with several choices for Book #3 in my reading resolution for 2020. The choices became overwhelming as I sought out recommendations from others. I know I could have much worse problems than too many good books to read.
The decision became what book should I read next….
I chose “Year of Yes” by Shonda Rhimes after reading a sample on my IPad. Typically, I enjoy having a physical book in my hand to read, but I thought I would try something different.
I am not a big TV watcher and I had not seen a full episode of any of her shows, but I have heard her name from her “Year of Yes” events and thought I could learn something from her. Similar to what she does with a good script, she brought to life her background and year of growth in vivid detail! I ended the book feeling that I made a new friend.
Leadership Lesson #1: It’s almost impossible to reach your full potential personally or professionally if you are not vulnerable. Shonda had many examples of how she said “no” previously to events or something that she was uncomfortable with. When she said “yes”, she grew as an individual.
Leadership Lesson #2: Creativity in an individual and a team creates success! Be willing to imagine, be open to dream, don’t put limits on yourself. The foundation of Shonda’s success was in her imagination. She surrounded herself with creative like minded people.
Leadership Lesson #3: We all need our personal Board of Directors to keep us on the right path. Shonda surrounded herself with a solid group of people who helped her through her “Year of Yes” and personal/professional challenges.
It was a challenge to pick my top 3 leadership lessons from this book. There were numerous lessons from this book and not enough space to capture them all. This book will leave you reflecting on your own “Year of Yes”.
Cheers to 2020 and Book #4!