3 Invaluable Career Lessons Every Leader Could Learn From My Interns

3 Invaluable Career Lessons Every Leader Could Learn From My Interns3 Invaluable Career Lessons Every Leader Could Learn From My InternsI have a special place in my heart for interns and all the optimism and fresh perspective they bring to the job. Recently, with college students finishing their internships and going back to school, I reflected on the unique value that internships offer for both the intern and the company. Theres no doubt internships can be incredibly valuable to someone in terms of helping inform what she wants her career to be. And, as importantly, what she doesnt want her career to be. Ive written in past blogs about how two internships shaped my career in a significant way. The first one- at a major Wall Street law firm- showed me that despite the prestige and great money the job offered, I actually wanted to launch my career in a different way. And I arrived at that conclusion because my other internship (at a international multi-line insurance company in Conne cticut) offered me immediate exposure to many areas of the business and allowed me to gain mora substantive responsibilities much more quickly.But internships can also be a valuable surce of insight, perspective, and even career advice for the people who employ them. Ive made it a habit of spending time with the interns at Fidelity to get feedback about their experiences- what delights them in the corporate setting, what frustrates them, and what would energize and inspire them to do their best work. It never fails- I always leave those sessions with new learnings and perspective on how we can enhance the associate experience.Their feedback can also be channeled into great career advice for anyone who takes the time to really listen and learn from interns. These are some of the observations I had this year.1. Be Open to Learning Something New Every DayThe interns I spoke with this year- both individually and in group settings- were so open and candid. They wanted to offer their pers pectives on how to make things even better and understand how they could add value every day. They were intensely curious, not taking anything as a given, and thereby stretching the boundaries of conventional thinking- which is a necessary precursor to creativity and innovation.Leaders at all levels can learn from this genuine level of openness- they dont have all the answers. In fact, one of their very important obligations is to ask really good, penetrating questions in order to push the thinking and boundaries of the organization. And another obligation is to be open to feedback and fresh ideas, and to empower people to act on these positive ideas. The traditional command and control style just wont work in fruchtwein organizations anymore. In this fast-paced and quickly changing world, strong leaders will need to demonstrate the intense curiosity that these interns bring to the table. It can be uncomfortable for many leaders to make this transition. In order to do so, you have t o admit you dont have all the answers, and you have to allow yourself to empower the people around you to act on their good ideas, instead of simply looking to you for answers. It requires that we check our egos and pride at the door and invest in the best ideas and perspectives of every team member.By being a leader whos open-minded and willing to listen and learn, youll sharpen your vision, connect more deeply with those around you, and empower your people to make a real difference.2. Get Real- Less Bureaucracy and More ActionThe traditional corporate practices that are now second nature for so many of us are completely foreign to interns. I heard some common refrains from interns, such as, Why are there so many meetings? Why arent there more informal and unscheduled discussions? Why do things feel so complex? Why cant we break down the cubes to allow ideas and discussion to flow more freely?Of course, theyre right. Fortunately, Fidelity has taken this feedback to heart and were w ell on our way to busting bureaucracy and creating a more energizing work environment. And we need to continue working at it. Bureaucracy is the enemy of progress and empowerment. It sucks energy and creativity from people and inevitably slows things down. I wholeheartedly embrace the energy and spirit that interns bring forward to liberate us from bureaucracy. Their fresh perspective not only keeps us honest, but it prevents us from thinking too small or acting too incrementally. 3. Climbing the Corporate Ladder Is Not What it Used to BeCompared to seasoned employees, interns are much less likely to focus on where theyll be in X years or what the promotion plan is. Some of that is to be expected, but I think theres something deeper afoot. Interns (and Millennials in general) are more focused on enhancing their skills than their titles. They intuitively grasp the fact that the world is quickly changing and they will need a diverse set of skills to enjoy a long and successful career. Theyre open to the jungle gym approach to development instead of the hierarchal ladder.Once again, I think theyre on to something. While ambition and career development are clearly very important, theres a new world order developing before our very eyes, and the traditional approach to career growth is narrow and limiting. Ive had multiple discussions with interns and our own employees about the skills needed for future advancement. Ive encouraged them to learn the basics of coding (at a minimum) and to have an internship that provides digital immersion of some sort.Establishing a broader foundation of skills will serve you well in this quickly evolving world.Chart Your Own CourseExperience and expertise are important in any career. And if you have a job, youll inevitably gain both. But the mindset you choose to employ throughout your career is yours and yours alone. Consider what your intern brought to the table- optimism, exuberance, energy, excitement. Theyre qualities anyone co uld benefit from.This article was originally published on LinkedIn. It has been republished here with permission.Photo of meeting courtesy of Hero Images/Getty Images.