Joining the workforce? Here's what veteran leaders at some of the biggest companies in the U.S. recommend for starting a meaningful career.
Graduation season is here, and so are the questions every new grad is asking: What actually sets me up for success at work? What should I focus on?
Here’s the advice leaders from some of the best workplaces have carried with them for years:
1. Be an active listener
“Stare into the eyes of the counterparty you’re speaking with, clear your mind, and really listen to what they have to say,” says Anthony Capuano, president and CEO of Marriott International.
It’s the same advice a mentor once shared with Mark Hoplamazian, chairman, president, and CEO of Hyatt: “God gave you two ears and one mouth. You should always use them in that proportion.”
Listening remains the No. 1 leadership behavior.
2. Be curious
“A piece of advice that I received early in my career that I still think about is being curious, never settling until [you] really comprehend the topic at hand,” says Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines.
3. Step out of your comfort zone
Don’t play it safe when it comes to your career, says Brian Doubles, president and CEO of Synchrony. Unsure what to do? Go for it, he says.
“Moving outside your comfort zone, taking jobs that you think are too big for you — where you wake up every morning a little bit nervous — that’s how you’re going to grow faster and deliver more in your career.”
4. There’s no shortcut to hard work
Early in his career, John Burke, president and CEO of Trek Bicycle, got a piece of advice that stuck: “Great sales reps drive on Sunday.”
It holds up. “That was true,” he says. “There’s no replacement for hard work."
5. Run toward the hard things
Early in her career, a mentor often told Maureen Burke Cawley, CHRO of Saatva: “It’s good for your development.”
He was right. “The gnarly, seemingly impossible challenges are the ones that test our mettle and reveal what we’re truly capable of,” she says.
Over time, Cawley saw leaders grow by stepping into the assignments no one else wanted.
“For new grads: The prestige of seniority rarely arrives without years of unglamorous hard work,” Cawley says. “Lean into the hardest problems. They’re not obstacles to your development. They are your development.”
6. Fix the problem, not the symptom
A leader once told Ty Breland, CHRO of Marriott International, to “fall in love with the problem.” Their point: don’t rush to fix something before you fully understand it.
Too often, people jump to solutions that only address symptoms. Take the time to ask “why” (and “why not”) before jumping into solutions.
7. Stay open
“Stay constantly open — to learning, to listening, and to opportunities to add value,” says Stephanie Kramer, CHRO of L'Oréal North America. “Be curious enough to keep asking questions, kind enough to lift others as you grow, and intentional about caring for both the people around you and yourself. Your career is not just built on what you achieve, but on how you show up.”
8. Remember: No one succeeds alone
That’s the advice Chris Nassetta’s dad gave him. The president and CEO of Hilton puts it this way: “Treat everybody the same, whether it’s an administrative assistant or one of the more senior people. They can all be a critically important part of ultimately your future and your success.”
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