During last week's Lunch & Learn, current CFO Mike Dost shared his experiences in the White House and his transition into the private sector. Mr. Dost spoke of the excitement of working with the President and the importance of execution. A CFO of not one, but seven companies, Mike Dost is required to execute countless plans, and as they say, "things are easier said than done." Therefore, when Mike Dost continuously reiterated his role in bringing people form A to B, from planning to actionable results, I was curious about how he managed through so many layers of people necessary for success - how does one man ensure that numerous people stay on task and execute accordingly? In response, Mr. Dost summarized his leadership style with one word, "micro-interest" as opposed to "micro-manage." The distinction between the two words separates an efficient and focused leader from an overbearing or time-consuming one. Having been searching for an answer to this question for some time now, I have never heard a better and clearer answer than that of Mr. Mike Dost.
While Mike Dost certainly has had impressive and unique experiences, it was "how" he spoke, not "what" that resonated most with me. While it is no surprise that Mike Dost is extremely well-spoken, having worked with some of the most powerful people in this country, I began to realize that some of the most valuable talents we gain from our experiences are those that are subtle and unobvious. "Soft" skills such as communication, leadership, and teamwork are seldom taught and develop gradually. When I assess the possibilities of my future, I will always keep in mind the importance of these skills and search for opportunities to improve upon them.
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