You're navigating your internship experience. What leadership lessons should you be absorbing?

View failures as opportunities to learn and improve. Reflect on what went wrong, what you could do differently next time, and how you can grow from the experience. Embracing failure as part of the learning process helps you develop resilience and adaptability in your internship and beyond.

However, the path is rarely linear. "Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves even when we risk disappointing others." Embracing setbacks as vital practices in refining abilities, not flaws in character, unlocks progress. True innovation stems from fearlessly exploring the unknown.

When you're learning during your internship, it's important to understand leadership lessons, especially when it comes to dealing with failure. Embracing failure can teach you valuable things. It shows you that it's okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. Failure can help you grow stronger and more resilient. It teaches you to take risks and not be afraid of trying new things. By embracing failure, you learn that setbacks are just part of the journey to success.

It took me twenty years to sum up what makes a good leader versus a good manager, and the best example I can come up with is to describe a former boss of mine. This person was so charismatic that everyone would follow him to the ends of the earth. Though day-to-day operations were almost impossible for him, at times of crisis, he was the person everyone called to help solve the problem. Many times a really good manager can knock your socks off with their results, but they might not be a leader. The difference comes down to being comfortable with assessing and taking risks coupled with the ability to ignite action in others. In a crisis or at any time of need, a leader doesn’t hesitate at all – in fact, crises are where leader made

O período de estágio gera sentimentos ambivalentes: a alegria de estar dentro do mercado de trabalho e a percepção que será cobrado por sua atuação. Esse sentimento de cobrança fica ainda mais agudo ao ser contratado. É um momento de muita novidade: ambientes, demandas, processos, pessoas. É natural que tenha dúvidas sobre como se comportar, quando se apresentar e quando apenas ouvir. Se possível, encontre na equipe com a qual você estagia uma pessoa com mais experiência e que esteja disposto a ajudar. Eventualmente, esta pessoa é aquela para quem você responde. Mas além disso, comece a seguir pessoas que falam sobre ambiente de trabalho, sobre sua profissão.

I often speak to the value of networking. An outside perspective can bring fresh insight when you need to workshop a new idea or you enter new territory. Furthermore, I recommend getting a broad-based perspective. It’s not always the “whos-who” that can give you the greatest insight, so reach out to a variety of demographics to get a more holistic view.

As a leadership development coach, I cannot emphasize enough the value of cultivating meaningful connections during your internship. Begin by connecting with colleagues from various departments and organizational levels. Engage in genuine conversations, participate in professional events, and show a sincere interest in understanding others' roles and expertise. Remember, networking is more than just accumulating contacts; it involves forming lasting relationships that can benefit your career in the long run. Developing the ability to create connections is a crucial characteristic of exceptional leaders, and your internship provides the perfect opportunity to hone this skill.

Communication is a lot like cooking to me. Tread too lightly and your message will be too bland. Use too much heat and people won’t be able to digest. You need to speak clearly enough to get your point across as well as a balanced delivery of firm and delicate messaging. Leaders need strong, clear messaging to get the results they want. If you aren’t seeing the results, stop talking and find a new approach. Learn the needs and motivations of your key stakeholders. Determine how to better position your message to reach the desired actions and results.

A comunicação sempre será fator crítico de sucesso em qualquer momento da vida profissional. Como estagiário o cuidado deve ser muito no tom da narrativa, sem parecer arrogante, nem ingênuo. Obviamente, a facilidade para conversar com o responsável pelo estágio no ambiente de trabalho dependerá da cultura e da formação deste outro profissional. Mas o cuidado com a linguagem, por mais informal que seja o ambiente, deve ser total. Na dúvida, comunique-se de maneira sucinta, clara, objetiva.

Actively look for ways to contribute beyond your assigned tasks. Offer to assist with projects or initiatives that interest you or align with your career goals. Taking initiative demonstrates your enthusiasm and willingness to learn, setting you apart as a proactive team member.

Tomar a iniciativa é sempre desejável. O cuidado é com o maneira como isso acontece. O excesso de iniciativas pode ser visto, eventualmente, como uma tentativa de ganhar espaço. Observe como acontece com outros profissionais no mesmo ambiente. Na dúvida, seja parcimonioso, mas seja consistente. Melhor boas iniciativas com qualidade, do que muitas difusas ou desconectadas dos obejtivos da empresa.

Take moments to think about what you've learned and experienced. Consider what went well, what could be improved, and what new insights you've gained. Regular reflection helps you track your progress, identify patterns, and continuously improve your skills and approach.

Navigating internship experiences offers valuable leadership lessons. Interns learn the importance of adaptability, as they often face new challenges and environments requiring quick learning and flexibility. Effective communication skills are honed by interacting with diverse teams and supervisors, emphasizing the need for clarity and active listening. Interns also gain insight into the significance of accountability, understanding how their contributions impact broader projects and the importance of reliability. Furthermore, observing and emulating successful leaders in real-world settings provides practical examples of strategic thinking, empathy, and decision-making.