What are the keys to good leadership and mentorship?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brenda Brinson, General Manager of Culture & People Strategy and Chief Diversity Officer at Phillips 66, asked that question to Mark Lashier and Bruce Chinn, the respective leaders of Phillips 66 and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, in a moderated discussion at Phillips 66 headquarters Tuesday. CPChem is jointly owned by Phillips 66 and Chevron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are five takeaways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Find ways to add value<\/strong>. Neither Lashier nor Chinn actively set out to be a chief executive. Rather, they looked for ways they could contribute in various roles, including helping others in their careers as mentors. \u201cI never really aspired to be CEO, \u201csaid Phillips 66 President and CEO Lashier. \u201cI aspired to create value for the company, to do things they wanted me to do, to help people make great careers for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be a good listener<\/strong>. Listening skills helped both CEOs become better versions of themselves and ultimately climb the corporate ladder. \u201cFeedback is a gift,\u201d said CPChem President and CEO Chinn, for whom a mentor stressed listening. \u201cBut you have to be willing to listen.\u201d Said Lashier, \u201cListening made me a better CEO. It made me a better husband. It made me a better father.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Build relationships<\/strong>. Leadership and mentorship hinge on relationships. For Chinn, relationships allowed him to overcome workplace bias. \u201cThat\u2019s why I believe in it,\u201d said Chinn. \u201cNot only with your immediate boss, but also your peers, your subordinates and folks in other functions. That\u2019s how people see the real you.\u201d Lashier recalled a manager in Sweeny, Texas, who as a mentor helped him win credibility with plant workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t force it. <\/strong>Mentorship, like leadership, cannot be willed. \u201cThere\u2019s some sort of organic chemistry that takes place,\u201d said Lashier. But that doesn\u2019t mean you should just wait for it to happen, said Chinn. \u201cI would tell folks, especially young folks, to never be afraid of engaging,\u201d he said. \u201cYou never know where your mentor might be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for lessons. <\/strong>Lashier said a mentor once helped him better understand how organizational decisions are made. \u201cSometimes decision makers have access to information or experiences you don\u2019t have,\u201d he said. Lashier also learned to see decisions as an opportunity to gain insight on the decision-making process. \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity to understand the why,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Phillips 66 President and CEO Mark Lashier and CPChem President and CEO Bruce Chinn shared advice on mentorship and leadership.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","widen_thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/phillips66.widen.net\/content\/nqxwc4rabi\/jpeg\/23-0003_25_MentorshipMatters_DotCom%20Thumbnail.jpeg?keep=c&crop=yes&color=ffffffff&quality=54&u=gsovgw","widen_thumbnail_width":"2048","widen_thumbnail_height":"1262","psx_hero_image_url":"https:\/\/phillips66.widen.net\/content\/6e4llw730x\/jpeg\/23-0003_25_MentorshipMatters_DotCom%20Banner.jpeg?keep=c&crop=yes&color=ffffffff&quality=54&u=s3whhe","psx_hero_image_width":"undefined","psx_hero_image_height":"undefined","psx_hero_image_mobile_url":"https:\/\/phillips66.widen.net\/content\/nqxwc4rabi\/jpeg\/23-0003_25_MentorshipMatters_DotCom%20Thumbnail.jpeg?keep=c&crop=yes&color=ffffffff&quality=54&u=gsovgw","psx_hero_image_mobile_width":"undefined","psx_hero_image_mobile_height":"undefined","psx_byline":"Thaddeus Herrick"},"categories":[3],"class_list":["post-18466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-giving-our-energy"],"yoast_head":"\n