I study and talk about a lot of global leaders who are famous and have made a huge mark on the world, and it’s for a good reason. But recently, I also realized that there are some pretty amazing leaders right around me, in my family and my community. I decided to sit down with some of these leaders and ask them a few questions about what they have learned about success, failure, and leading people.
The first of the interviews is with someone I have literally known my whole life, my mom. My mom has been a leader in various roles for 26 years and has a master’s degree in global leadership. She is currently the Executive Director of a non-profit in Rockford, IL, where leads nine staff, 60 volunteers every week, and has helped expand the organization. She also serves on the board for several organizations in the community. Recently, she was named one of the “20 People You Should Know” by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. Here are some of the questions I asked her:
So, what do you love most about leading an organization?
Honestly, I really love coming into an organization that has been struggling or declining and turning it around. I love the challenge of analyzing the current teams, systems, and processes to see what is working well and what is not working and then creating a strategic plan to tackle the issues and begin turning things around. I actually love challenges, because they keep me engaged and at my best. It’s when things are going smoothly for a long period of time that I begin to get bored. But what I truly love most is creating a culture and leading a strong team toward our goals.
How do you create culture? Can you explain that more?
When I talk about creating culture, I am talking about the kind of environment I like to create for my team. Culture is created through the actual physical workspace, which I like to make warm and fun and creative. It’s about establishing values as a team for how we are going to interact and treat each other and then holding people accountable to live by those. I like to create a team where each person is empowered to do their job and they have the resources and tools they need. I invest a great deal of time and energy in my relationships with them as well as in their growth and development. I find out what their love languages are and try to make sure I speak their language. All of these little things create a great culture.
What has been a failure in your current role?
Well, a recent failure I am still processing has to do with someone I hired. I have been learning that I have a hiring bias, and I tend to hire people who look or think like me. I always look for the 3 C’s – character, chemistry, and competency. However, earlier this year, I ended up offering a key position to a candidate who had great character and good chemistry. But I knew she lacked some of the basic competencies for the role. I made assumptions that because she was a millennial, she would be tech-savvy and a quick learner, and I compromised my requirements for the role. Five months and several difficult conversations later, she resigned because the job is too overwhelming and not a right fit for her. I take full responsibility for this because I shorted the process and compromised when I know better. But I also learned more about myself and won’t make the same mistake again. And she actually learned a lot more about herself and figured out that she does not have strengths that she had previously thought she had. Hopefully, she will be able to find something that plays more into her strengths and gifts.
How do you keep learning and stay current in your leadership?
I read a ton. I love to read leadership books and share them with my team. I also listen to podcasts and watch Ted Talks. Every year, I attend the Global Leadership Summit, where I can learn from world-class leaders like Simon Sinek and Marcus Buckingham. I love to learn and keep trying new ideas and incorporating new insights. That’s what keeps me fresh.
What one piece of advice would you give to a young leader?
Stay humble, hungry, and smart. Know that you are not the center of the universe and are not entitled to anything. Stay focused on serving others and not just yourself. Keep working hard and give 110%. Go above and beyond to get better at your job, your skills, your craft. If you stay humble, hungry, and smart, you will grow and be more attractive as an employee and leader.
Thanks to my mom for taking the time to talk about leadership. Stay tuned in the weeks to come to hear some leadership lessons from other people around me.