Levels of Leadership By Dr. H. Stephen Bailey

From the Trustee’s Chair

Levels of Leadership

We all have our places that induce clarity. It’s an environment that slows us down, allows us to clear the clutter, and view situations differently. Continually, I return to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina on my annual sit-on-the-porch vacation and contemplate the view. You get up, make your coffee, claim your rocking chair, and look out over the blue mountain vista – remarkable. For me, I realize I am just a small part of this world. My ego is calmed down and I can contemplate solutions without the “I” factor. My IARFC thoughts go to empowering others and bringing in leaders to the Association. I ponder how I can leave my leadership position feeling good about the future of the IARFC. My mountain vista is a quiet training ground for solving these issues. You see, everything I look at in front of me clicks, it goes together, it invigorates. I come away understanding and motivated on my mission in the next year before I leave the IARFC in capable hands of another IARFC Trustee Chair. I have to address finding the right leaders.

Regarding the IARFC, we need to identify those leaders — people who inspire others to reach higher levels. For me, it’s finding the right people and putting them in the right slots. I think everyone has some form of leadership ability – it may just take recognizing potential and giving someone a chance.

I once worked for a man named Randy Vincent who owned a textile company in South Carolina. He took a bunch of us greenhorns and taught us how to manage groups. He would counsel that the biggest problem leadership has is a tendency to push down people who were following them instead of pulling them up…essentially treating one’s own ego first.

In reality, it is amazing how you can take a person, plug them into their talents, and watch them blossom. That makes me look good and FEEL good. I experience an internal happiness when I see people maximize their potential.

Let’s Discover our IARFC Leaders on Every Level...

• Trustee Board They manage the total operation of the IARFC which includes US and International chapters. They make sure that chapters are on the same page in relation to the IARFC Mission.

• Chapter Board They lead within the structure of their specific chapter inspiring the membership to get involved. In essence they will carry the chapter for you. • Committees These leaders deal with the details. They address the bigger picture by solving the little concerns. Major misunderstandings are simplified into minor understandings taking into account that “analysis paralysis” is the biggest stumbling block. At some point decisions are made and action recommended.

• MRD/RDs They are grassroots leaders, out in the regions, working with groups to attract new people into the Association as RFAs, RFCs and MRFCs. They find the people, nurture individual relationships, and provide the level of leadership to increase membership totals.

• Members They are the leaders and role models to their clients and prospects. The Association promotes these committed consultants who present to the public as competent ethical professionals.

• Home Office As a stable team fully immersed in the IARFC culture, they are the best at the overall picture. We don’t have a lot of egos here. I look at the staff in Middletown as my advisors. Sometime out in the field, we don’t realize the value of the home office because they work day-to-day. We think we know more than what they do.

When I walk off the stage, and somebody says that you have done a good job, I don’t care who or what position they have in the IARFC, that recognition is the greatest reward for me. When humans value each other, everybody wins; everybody succeeds.

With the IARFC, I feel I was guided to where I was needed and happily think I made a difference. With limited time left as the Trustee Chair of the IARFC, I wish to have extraordinary leaders in place to take over. Are you one of them?

H. Stephen Bailey, Ph.D., MRFC® Steve Bailey assumes the leadership position of the IARFC as CEO and Chair of the IARFC Board of Trustees. He is also the 2010 recipient of the Loren Dunton Memorial Award and 2019 Founder’s Award.

Contact: (704) 563-6844 chairman@iarfc.org www.iarfc.org