Best Advice & Life Lessons with Scott Van Vliet (Microsoft Teams, Skype)
Oct 31, 2020
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Scott Van Vliet, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, shares his best advice & lessons on leadership, career trajectory, hiring talent, future of remote work, and insights from industry leaders. They discuss hybrid work models, introversion benefits, investment in improving internet connection, and the impact of role models. The importance of learning, empathy in leadership, and advice for newcomers in the tech industry are also highlighted.
Informed decision-making, experience, and expertise play a crucial role in effective leadership.
Passion and personal interest contribute significantly to career choices and trajectory.
Attitude, character, and a growth mindset are essential for hiring and retaining great talent.
Deep dives
The Power of Making Decisions
Scott, the guest of the podcast episode, highlights the importance of making decisions and how it impacts his role as a leader. He describes his approach to decision-making when asked how he explains his job to his children. Scott emphasizes the significance of informed decision-making and the role of experience and expertise in shaping those decisions. He also stresses the importance of recognizing and admitting mistakes, and the value of course correction in leadership.
Career Path and Personal Growth
In this part of the podcast, Scott discusses his career trajectory, starting from a background in criminal justice administration to entering the software technology industry. He reflects on the choices that led him to pursue a career in technology after initially considering law, showcasing the role of personal interest and passion in career decisions. Scott highlights the value of experience and learning, particularly his exposure to technology at a young age and the impact it had on his career choices.
Leadership and Talent Management
Scott dives into the topic of leadership and talent management, revealing his key attributes and practices for hiring and retaining great talent. He emphasizes the significance of attitude and character, looking beyond skill and experience when evaluating potential candidates. Scott explains the importance of humility, a growth mindset, and a willingness to learn as essential qualities in a leader. He also shares insights on managing performance, advocating for early and frequent feedback and a compassionate approach to help individuals reach their potential.
The Future of Remote Work
Technology has accelerated the acceptance and productivity of remote work during the pandemic. The stigma surrounding remote work has been shattered, as organizations have adapted and demonstrated the ability to handle intense work remotely. This has led to a realization that remote work is here to stay, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. A hybrid model is likely to emerge, where employees can choose to work remotely or in the office based on their personal preferences and the nature of their work. Business travel may also evolve as people still desire in-person meetings and connections.
Effective Meetings and the Power of Written Narratives
The key to effective meetings lies in careful preparation and clear objectives. Rather than relying solely on presentations, Scott Van Blee advocates for the use of written narratives to drive discussion and decision-making. By sharing a document prior to the meeting, participants have the opportunity to read and absorb the information, ensuring that everyone starts with the same context. This approach encourages more thoughtful engagement and allows executives to answer their own questions by reading through the narrative. Further, using written narratives aids in capturing comprehensive meeting notes and ensures that important details and decisions are properly documented.
This podcast episode of On the BALL (Best Advice & Life Lessons) hosted by Srini Raghavan, features Scott Van Vliet, Corporate Vice President who leads a product & engineering org at Microsoft that powers Microsoft Teams and Skype. In this insightful podcast Scott shares his best advice & lessons on leadership, his career trajectory, hiring & retaining world-class talent, future of remote work, and insights from industry leaders and much more.
On the BALL podcast focuses on extracting best advice and lessons from world-class performers & leaders from various fields, by deconstructing and teasing out their routines, success habits, tactics, techniques, hacks, tricks, secrets and the best advice or life lesson they've ever received.
