Lately, i have been thinking about my professional life, where I am and how I got here. Through this reflection, I have realized that I have had the most amazing mentors, the best learning opportunities and the best experiences that have helped me become the leader I am today. Don’t get me wrong, there have been tough times, clashing personalities, regrets and lots and lots of mistakes…I mean learning opportunities throughout but man, what a ride I have been on. Lately, I have been thinking about my leadership style and trying to really let go of what others think of me and focus on what I think about myself. (thanks Mel Robbins) this focus has really led me to looking at my leadership journey through a new lens, so, in this blog, I am going to take you on this journey with me so pack your bags and jump aboard.
I guess my leadership journey began as a child of parents who never finished high school but worked hard everyday to make sure that my brother and I had a better life than they did. We were taught that RELIABILITY is everything and when you make a COMMITMENT, you not only follow through, but you give it 110%.
My journey has been one of starts and stops, of imposter syndrome, of being the youngest voice in the room to being the oldest. I have learned a great many lessons, not only from leaders but also from people whom I have led.
Lately, I have been thinking about my leadership style and trying to really let go of what others think of me and focus on what I think about myself. (thanks Mel Robbins) this focus has really led me to looking at my leadership journey through a new lens, so over the next couple of days, I am going to take you on this journey with me so pack your bags and jump aboard.
My first job was as a cashier and then department manager at Pay n Save (much like a Walgreens but a bit bigger) I was a reliable employee even though I had just turned 16 and I would continue to work for this company through my junior year of college. What I learned by working here is to REWARD your stellar performers, don’t PUNISH them. If someone is reliable and shows up when they are scheduled, do not make them work every single weekend because other people aren’t reliable. ACCOUNTABILITY is everything and should be RECOGNIZED.
The next lesson I learned, came after I graduated and became a VISTA Volunteer working with the Girl Scouts in Alaska. I did this for 2.5 years and then took a paid position with the Girl Scout Council as the Membership and Outdoor Program manager Here I learned that relationship is EVERYTHING, That listening more and talking less GIVES You CREDIBILITY, and that, FAMILY isn’t always blood related.
All of these lessons I learned in the very early days of my career I still carry with me today. When I focus on them, great things happen. But this is just the beginning, there are so many more lessons I have learned and taken to heart!
After being in Alaska for 6.5 years life presented my family with an opportunity to move to Minnesota. Armed with my degree in Anthropology with a focus on Northwest Coast Native American Culture and six years of essentially having fun with girls in Nature and creating Girl Scout programs in Native Villages, had no idea what I was. What job titles should I be looking at and how does anything I had done in the past few years possibly translate into a career.
As we settled into life in Minnesota, I applied to several jobs and one day received a call and the woman said … you’re not really qualified for the position you applied for, however, I have another position that I need a qualified volunteer manager to run and that is you! So that is what I had become, a Volunteer Manager. I lived in MN for 8 years and held a few positions moving from a manager to a director. During my tenure in MN I went back to school and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management and a professional certification in Volunteer Management both of these would become catalysts as a navigated my career up through present day.
I learned so many lessons during this time of my life, like how to HONOR your VALUES, and how sometimes TRAGEDY can bring community together (9/11) but the most beneficial lesson I learned came out of the privilege of having Barbara Raye enter my life as my teacher, my boss, my mentor and most importantly my friend. She taught the concept and the value of being a SERVANT LEADER. This is one of the lessons that has helped me become the leader I am today. Being a leader who prioritizes the needs of others over my own has been the single best thing I have done for myself and the teams I have led.
The next stop on this journey is Mississippi. I learned so many things during my 15-year tenure in MS. It was during this time that I vowed to never again hide my true self or who I loved. I struggled to find my place and dealt with the loss of my father who was my biggest champion. My marriage ended and I found my soul mate and became a mother.
The three lessons that stand out the most for me as I started over is that RESPECT runs deeper than the racial struggle in MS,
SELF-CARE is crucial to success as a leader,
AND, How to be AUTHENTIC and COURAGEOUS – to maintain the highest integrity no matter who or what the situation is – to not waiver from my core values. Or as Maggie Kuhn once said, “Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes”.
Our final stop on this journey we have been traveling, is Florida and the work I do as an Executive Director for the Red Cross. I feel that my leadership growth still has many roads to explore but I believe that just recently I learned two of the most valuable lessons about leadership. The first of these lessons I learned due to circumstances in my personal life and that lesson is … it is always ok to ASK for HELP! Three years ago I had to do this and what I learned is that I have a community! One that has nurtured me as I moved and learned and grew and one that is still there behind me. Leaders, friends and employees who have known me since I was 22 and beginning my journey, to people right here in Winter Haven who had only known me for three years, stepped up and without judgement or hesitation said, What do you need, how can I help.
The second lesson I learned recently is this, FORGIVENESS isn’t always about condoning or accepting what someone else has done, sometimes it is about letting go so you can move forward and not stay stuck in a place you need to exit.
I know both of these lessons seem simple and I probably always knew them but in this chapter of my journey I needed to be reminded.
As I continue to grow and learn, I do know one thing, my leadership journey isn’t over. Each day I continue to grow as a leader. I learn from people I supervise, my peers and people who lead me. In this space, I, maybe, have learned the most valuable lesson, NEVER STOP GROWING!!!
Thank you for taking this journey with me. As I continue to navigate uncertainty in my world, it was helpful for me to take the time to reflect about where I came from and where I am today.