How will you Measure your Life?

Homage to Clayton M. Christensen

Welcome to this special edition of “Sebastian’s Leadership Reflections” to pay tribute to Prof. Clayton Christensen, Harvard professor, the father of “Disruptive Innovation.” However we will not talk about his business teachings and academic legacy, rather about his strong sense of purpose and values captured in his book “How will you measure your life?”

Prof Clayton Christensen offers a profoundly ethical path to meaningful leadership through this book, that helps us navigate the complexity of both our personal and professional lives with wisdom and purpose.

A few personal notes…

1. The Importance of Values

Christensen emphasizes the significance of defining your values early in life. Just as a well-built house requires a solid foundation, a fulfilling life requires a strong set of values. To become an effective leader, it is crucial to align your actions with your core values, both personally and professionally.

“it is easier to hold to your principles 100% of the time than it is to hold them 98% of the time. If you give in to “just this once,” based on a marginal cost analysis, you’ll regret where you end up”

2. Balancing Priorities

The book challenges the common assumption that success in your career can compensate for neglecting your personal life. Christensen urges us to maintain a healthy balance between our work, family, and personal well-being. True leadership involves recognizing that success in one area cannot fully compensate for failure in another.

3. The Theory of Resources

Christensen introduces the concept of allocating resources strategically, which is equally applicable in personal life and leadership. Just as a business allocates its resources wisely, individuals should invest their time and energy in activities that align with their long-term goals and values. You need to learn to make the most of your limited resources.

4. Deliberate Career Planning

The book emphasizes the importance of having a clear career strategy. Christensen argues that people often end up in careers they never planned for, leading to dissatisfaction. True leadership involves taking ownership of your career, being accountable for your own development, setting long-term goals, and continually reevaluating your path to ensure alignment with your values and aspirations.

5. The Power of Relationships

Christensen underscores the profound influence of relationships on our lives. True leadership is not about climbing the corporate ladder alone but also about nurturing genuine connections with others. Building strong relationships, both personally and professionally, can enhance your overall well-being and contribute to your success.

6. Finding Your Purpose

One of the most important aspects of this book is that it encourages readers to reflect on their life's purpose. As a leader, understanding your purpose goes beyond financial success or career achievements. It's about making a meaningful impact on the world and leaving a positive legacy.

7. Integrating Work and Life

Christensen argues that true leadership involves integrating your work and personal life seamlessly. Instead of compartmentalizing these aspects, strive for synergy, where your career and personal values complement each other.

8. Measuring Success

The title of the book, "How Will You Measure Your Life," prompts readers to contemplate their personal metrics of success. Leadership is not just about reaching the top of the corporate ladder; it's about achieving a sense of fulfillment, purpose, and making a positive difference in the lives of others.

I believe that one of the most profound paragraphs from the book “How will you measure your life?” is one that touches on the responsibility that managing teams represent, no matter how early you may be in your career to appreciate some experiences or how cynical / skeptical you may be about what matters when you go to work. We are humans dealing with humans, with human responsibilities over a very important part of other fellow humans. This is why management is a privilege…

Management is a privilege.

Management is the most noble of professions, if it’s practiced well.

• “One of the theories that gives great insight on the first question—how to be sure we find happiness in our careers—is from Frederick Herzberg, who asserts that the powerful motivator in our lives isn’t money; it’s the opportunity to learn, grow in responsibilities, contribute to others, and be recognized for achievements. I tell the students about a vision of sorts I had while I was running the company I founded before becoming an academic. In my mind’s eye I saw one of my managers leave for work one morning with a relatively strong level of self-esteem. Then I pictured her driving home to her family 10 hours later, feeling unappreciated, frustrated, underutilized, and demeaned. I imagined how profoundly her lowered self-esteem affected the way she interacted with her children. The vision in my mind then fast-forwarded to another day, when she drove home with greater self-esteem—feeling that she had learned a lot, been recognized for achieving valuable things, and played a significant role in the success of some important initiatives. I then imagined how positively that affected her as a spouse and a parent. My conclusion: Management is the most noble of professions if it’s practiced well. No other occupation offers as many ways to help others learn and grow, take responsibility and be recognized for achievement, and contribute to the success of a team. More and more MBA students come to school thinking that a career in business means buying, selling, and investing in companies. That’s unfortunate. Doing deals doesn’t yield the deep rewards that come from building up people.”

Clayton Christensen

In conclusion,

"How Will You Measure Your Life" offers profound leadership lessons that challenge conventional notions of success and encourage a more holistic and values-driven view of career and life. By aligning your actions with your core values, maintaining a balanced life, and fostering meaningful relationships, you can become a more effective and fulfilled leader.

Both in business and in life one needs to measure what truly matters to understand what is the real impact (moving forward) and what the true legacy will be (looking backwards).

P.S. Before I go, here you have “The Treat,” where I share some of the music that kept me company while writing … Enjoy as you bid farewell to this post

“Lead yourself, Learn to live. Lead others, Learn to Build.”

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