The Light of the Leader A Message From the Editor
I
have always likened leadership to a lighthouse. Growing up in Ohio, my family spent a lot of time doing outdoor activities, and lighthouses abound along the Great Lakes. We spent our summers in Ohio fishing on Lake Erie and making frequent trips to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to fish and snowmobile on Lake Superior. There are some beautiful lighthouses in this region of the country. I understand we have some historical lighthouses here in Texas as well, and I look forward to visiting those and welcome recommendations from my Texas native friends. The purpose of a lighthouse, in simple terms, is to emit light and serve as a navigational aid for boats, freighters and any other maritime vessels. Lighthouses give caution to coastal hazards and safe entry to harbors. Essentially, this is the role of a leader, especially in today’s unparalleled and swirling times of workforce change. Every day, my role is to engage with leaders of companies in North Texas. Every day, I hear about the need for a skilled workforce, but I also consistently hear about the need to upskill the leaders of these organizations. We have all heard the quote that people leave bad bosses, not companies. True
statement? Indeed. Most recent statistics show that over 75 percent of employees are frustrated by their bosses and managers. Higher salaries and good benefits are still important in today’s work world. With a more discerning workforce, however, personal boundaries and mental well-being play an even greater role. These fundamental items come as a direct result of good or bad leadership. Hence, I want this edition of The Lens to strictly focus on the importance of leadership in the workforce. Our leaders are our beacons of light. Our leaders are here to help us navigate calm waters, shallow waters and turbulent storms. In this edition, I am honored to highlight a few of those beacons of light here in North Texas. My hope, dear readers, is that with these articles, you find a few hints of encouragement to keep investing in your leaders and to grow them within your organizations for the purpose of a kind, creative, inclusive and productive company culture. I promise you that investing time and money in your leaders will pay dividends in recruitment and retention. I leave you with this quote: “Purpose is to life what a lighthouse is to a ship.” From my perspective, a leader is to an organization what a lighthouse is to a ship: a beacon of light offering assurance to those coming out of the dark. Keep on shining,
Shannon E. Bryan t, MEd, CWDP, LSSGB
david halloran
executive vice president for corporate solutions & economic development, tarrant county college district host, the workforce lens podcast editor-in-chief, the lens magazine publication shannon.bryant@tccd.edu
Have thoughts on leadership? Drop me a message at shannon.bryant@tccd.edu. I value your thoughts. 4 | CORPORATE.TCCD.EDU
