February 8, 2017
www.gfb.org
Vol. 35 No. 3
FORMER POW SPEAKS AT GFB STATE PRESIDENTS’ CONFERENCE
Georgia Farm Bureau held its annual County Presidents’ Conference Feb. 1 at the Marriott Macon City Center. County leaders attended a series of workshops covering leadership styles, key players in the federal and state legislative arenas and Farm Bureau organizational issues. “I want to thank each of you for taking time to come today. Our goal is to provide you with information that will help you in your role as county leaders,” GFB President Gerald Long said in his welcome to the 265 county Farm Bureau leaders attending the event. Lee Ellis, president and founder of Leadership Freedom & FreedomStar Media, delivered the keynote speech, “Leading with Honor,” in which he shared leadership lessons he learned during the Vietnam War while spending five years as a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton - a maximum security POW camp in North Vietnam. The first step in being an effective leader, Ellis said, is to know your own personality strengths and struggles and to own up to these rather than Lee Ellis pretending you’re perfect. Effective leaders guard their character, Ellis said. The next issue of “Guarding your character is the biggest thing. It always has been since GFB News Alert Adam and Eve. You have to believe in what you say you stand for. If the comes out people you are charged with leading were around you 24/7 what would they Feb. 22. see? Would they see commitment and courage?” Ellis also stressed the importance of leaders communicating their message with employees and volunteers. “You can’t over communicate your message. Spend time every day communicating with your volunteers and staff. Communicate to clarify your message, collaborate and support your team.” It’s equally as important that leaders listen to their team as talk to them, Ellis said. “Listening makes a difference. It helps you connect at a heart level, “ Ellis said. “Stay positive because emotions are contagious. When you experience adversity be resilient.” During a workshop at the conference, Ellis discussed the “Leadership Squeeze” leaders face in which they must balance the need to achieve results with the need of maintaining positive relationships with their employees or volunteers. “A good leader finds a way to get employees or volunteers to put their heart into it,” Ellis said. “When people feel valued they get energized.” Raellyn Kovich, a corporate executive coach with Leadership Freedom & FreedomStar Media, led county Farm Bureau leaders in an activity in which they discussed traits of good and bad -continued on next page