Stay curious.
Paula Adams
Never stop learning.
Tim Clegg
PRESENTED BY
Block out the noise.
Tyler Bussell
You never have to grow up.
Rob BlevinsBe true to yourself.
Nyla Milleson
If you feel like a ‘goob,’ you’re doing it right.
Beth Domann
Say the nice part out loud.
Shallina Goodnight
Life is a contact sport.
Lisa Rau
It’s all about service.
Bill Hennessey
We choose to start by asking our customers and associates what they consider important. Then we get to work – designing banking to fit their needs and finding the most impactful ways to support our communities.
In the end, it comes down to understanding what really matters.
Proud to support another 90 great ideas.
Ideas have never been more vital than now. As business leaders, we have a unique opportunity to learn from others and apply new concepts and strategies. Combine the brilliance of nine local leaders, and you get tons of experience and hard-fought lessons distilled for our readers. Check out the ideas, and then listen to the stories on podcast. Ideas are golden, but learning the purpose behind them is priceless. I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I loved learning from our featured speakers.
—Jennifer Jackson Publisher, SBJ
Prepare to think, learn and be inspired. 90 Ideas in 90 Minutes has become a passion project for me. It is an annual undertaking that has allowed me to reach out to nine people of differing backgrounds, ages and accomplishments that I have personally admired and to ask for a glimpse of their psyche. What are the guiding principles that have led them to their current selves? What do they value at their core? What are their rules and proudest accomplishments? We hope you enjoy this event where our nine presenters will bring their ideas to life.
—Jennifer Jackson, Publisher, SBJPaula Adams joined Penmac Staffing in 1995 and worked in nearly every department before becoming president in 2006. Adams manages all corporate and branch operations. She serves on the board of directors for nine organizations, including Kiwanis, United Way and the Young Presidents’ Organization. Through her work, Adams has influenced thousands of job seekers and supported local businesses.
Rob Blevins is executive director of the Discovery Center of Springfield Inc., which serves three countries, over 30 U.S. states and over 30 Missouri counties. In the last year, the center has won the $1 million Yass Prize in education from the Center for Education Reform and Forbes, the Community Service Award from the Association of Science Technology Centers and the Grittiest Nonprofit Award.
Tyler Bussell is vice president of Bussell Building Inc. He has an extensive background in construction, growing up around his father’s home building company, often going to work with him as a child. He’s now responsible for the day-to-day operations of all Bussell companies.
Tim Clegg is co-founder and CEO of Hurts Donut Co., started with wife Kas in 2013. They’ve built it to an Entrepreneur Magazine Top 500 Franchise with over 20 locations in 11 states. He served in the U.S. military before a medical discharge in 2015 following a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Today, Hurts Donut generates over $22 million in annual revenue.
Beth Domann was first seen on the Landers Theatre stage in 1978 in a Springfield Little Theatre production of “Alice in Wonderland.” Since then, she has been an actress, stand-up comic and director and served as emcee for local charitable and corporate events. As SLT’s executive director, she oversees all production and show selection for the annual series by community volunteers.
Shallina Goodnight is a 16-year executive leader for CoxHealth at Home, formerly Oxford HealthCare. Overseeing a staff of 300 and 11 business lines over 58 counties in Missouri, she was responsible for innovating and launching technologies to provide home care solutions while also driving growth through service line acquisitions across the market.
Bill Hennessey is vice president of mission for Mercy Springfield Communities, where he’s worked for 33 years. He led marketing and strategy for 20 years and now, with two master’s degrees in health care administration, he leads Mercy Springfield’s mission, ethics and pastoral care programs and oversees its auxiliary, hospitality house, day care center and coworker events.
Nyla Milleson is the architect of the Drury University Lady Panthers basketball program that established itself as a national power in NCAA Division II. In seven years as Drury’s coach, her teams appeared in five NCAA Division II tournaments and finished national runner-up in 2004. After stints coaching at Missouri State and George Mason universities, she’s returned to Drury as athletics director.
Lisa Rau has served Silver Dollar City Attractions as director of publicity and public relations for more than three decades. She has represented the famed, internationally awarded theme park for more than half its existence, and previously worked as an award-winning news reporter. During her career, she’s won a Mid-America Emmy and several Addy and Associated Press awards.
We all know about current staffing challenges. To attract and retain great talent, treat your current employees well. Make sure you’re not only offering competitive wages and benefits but also that you’re offering those more intangible perks, such as flexibility, respect and kindness.
We should also be willing to accept support. Often, we’re ready to jump up and offer help when others need it, but rarely do we ask for it ourselves. When you ask someone for a favor, you are showing vulnerability, building community and letting others know by example that it’s OK for them to do the same.
Each one of us is unique. We all have different things we’re good at but also areas where we struggle. If we’re honest with ourselves about our strengths and weaknesses, it gives us freedom and clarity about our lives, both professional and personal. 4
Let’s face it, change is inevitable. Rather than resist it, accept it. In business, especially, it’s easy to get stuck in routines and continue doing things in a certain way just because that’s the way it’s always been done. Instead, look at change with an open mind – be flexible and willing to adjust what’s considered best practice.
Saying yes opens you up to new opportunities, perspectives and relationships. … While saying yes will get you out of your comfort zone and give you wider perspectives, there is value in saying no.
Community involvement should be more than an abstract phrase. Take it seriously. It’s about more than volunteering and donating, though those things have their place. It’s about attending the football games, walking in the town Christmas parade and being there for your neighbors. When you’re successful, you share that with others; when you struggle, you also should be able to share that burden. Community is just about showing up for each other.
While saying yes will get you out of your comfort zone and give you wider perspectives, there is value in saying no. When you overcommit, particularly to projects that are not interesting or relevant to you, you are stealing time and energy that could otherwise be put toward things you’re passionate about. Don’t be afraid to decline invitations and projects that don’t speak to you.
Saying yes opens you up to new opportunities, perspectives and relationships. Say yes to new projects, interesting offers and invitations to join local boards. Agree to make a leap, to meet each chapter as it comes; saying yes will broaden your world and give you a fuller life.
Whether it’s in the office, at your child’s school or at home, learning never ends. As we grow, mature and have new experiences, we are always expanding our perspectives, learning new things. Stay open to new opportunities to learn. Stay curious about the world around you, and you’ll never stop growing.
Advice is great, and it’s always great to collaborate with a team, but in the end, what’s right for one person might not necessarily be right for another person. Someone who values loyalty might make different decisions than someone who values adventure, for instance. Think about what is most important to you, and then work to make sure your actions and choices align with those values.
Say it out loud. Write it down. Show it in your actions. Express gratitude to your family, your coworkers and the person who checks you out at the grocery store. Being continually grateful for even the smallest blessings will show up in your attitude, work and life as a whole.
My grandpa is 92 years old. He has owned and operated a business for over 50 years and is a wealth of knowledge. When I was starting my professional career, I was talking to him about my job when he stopped me and said, “Robbie, I had a job once where I looked at the clock to see if it was time to go home because I didn’t want to be there. If you find yourself looking at the clock to remind yourself that you need to get home, you need to go somewhere else.”
This is my personal brand and business philosophy. As an English major, I love a good play on words, and as a business leader, I need something that can anchor my decision making. If a decision does something good and it also allows everyone involved to do well, especially financially, then you’ve found something that has the potential to be sustainable. Find opportunities that are not only the right thing to do morally or ethically speaking but that are also right for your business.
“No, we can’t do that” or “That’s not possible” is a legitimate response you need to hear as a leader sometimes, but getting that routinely won’t allow your organization to do the hard things. And the most important things to do are usually the hardest things. Instead, train your team to say, “Yes, and we’ll have to figure out a way to get this other thing done before that is possible.” As a leader, one of your most important jobs is removing barriers to greatness. Impossible is always possible if you can find a way to solve all the things that were making it impossible.
MLB player Chili Davis once said, “Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.” I live by this. Choose to have fun whenever you can, and I’d imagine that you can choose to make what you do fun more often than you are right now. You can sing, whistle, laugh or smile while doing a lot of things, if you try. People like working around, for or with people that can make hard work fun.
One day, someone on your team is going to do something that makes them and everyone around them think they will be fired –and you’re going to keep them.
When I train my leaders, I tell them their people need to know they care about them. In response, one of the people I was training once asked me how he could make people think that he cared about them. Here’s what I told him: There is no trick to it. There is no faking it. People can tell. You have to genuinely care. Show them in everything you do that you care more about them than most everything else. A team that knows you care about them can do great things.
When you feel safe and secure, your body releases hormones that help you think more clearly and remember things better. A lack of these hormones can cause all kinds of unwanted behavior: anxiety, fear, irritability, distrust. Besides being the right thing to do for your people, it also makes good business sense to have people that are physically ready to do good work.
One day, someone on your team is going to do something that makes them and everyone around them think they will be fired – and you’re going to keep them. You’re going to keep them because you know that they’ll never make that same mistake again, whereas the person you would have to hire to replace them might.
Ask lots of questions before saying what you think or taking any action. Investigate possible mistakes on the team with compassionate curiosity. Your people will appreciate the authenticity that comes from going on a fact-finding mission together. Making incorrect assumptions can destroy morale and tank a culture. Not only is it good for business to have people that feel heard; it’s also good for people to know you want to listen.
We all like to be right. It’s not something to be ashamed of because it’s human nature, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t need to keep it in check or rein it in. This is one of those things that leaders have to sacrifice to become a good leader. We owe it to the people we lead, the organizations we manage or the missions we serve to make sure the decisions are right even if it means that we’re wrong.
This is a phrase a mentor once shared with me when I told her I
We tend to think that success doesn’t require luck, but you’ll discover that most successful people have been really lucky if you look long and hard enough. The good news is that luck isn’t always entirely up to chance. Luck can be manufactured through hard work. In fact, hard work often creates the opportunity to get lucky.
Doing the right thing is always the best course of action. Whenever you are in a difficult situation, look for the morally right course of action, and more times than not, things will work out positively. In doing so, this also creates goodwill with your customers, which compounds faster than money. Satisfied customers are the goal; the sales are a side effect.
Don’t pay attention to what others think. Focus on providing the best product and service for the best value, and the rest will take care of itself. As your business grows, you attract more people who tell you what you should or should not be doing. While this advice can be helpful, it is often a distraction. Be careful who you listen to, because no one knows your business better than you, and few people have your best interests at heart.
Business is uncomfortable. Difficult conversations must be had and unpopular decisions must be made, neither of which cease as your business grows. The quicker you accept the inevitable and become comfortable with being uncomfortable, the quicker you make progress as a leader.
If it is worth doing, it is worth doing well. Taking time to perfect your product is a tedious process, but it has the highest return on investment. If you rush a subpar product through development, you’ll spend the rest of your life convincing customers (and yourself) that your product is worth the money. However, if you obsess over your product and make it as perfect as possible, regardless of time frame, the quality of your product will speak for itself. You want your customers to rave about your product to everyone they know. If you succeed, you will spend the rest of your life reaping the benefits because word of mouth compounds exponentially.
Vice President, Bussell Building Inc.
There is no shortcut to success. Become a master at what you do by performing ordinary actions for an extraordinary amount of time. Do it for so long that it would be unreasonable for you to not be great at it. Many times, people jump from idea to idea without giving one the necessary time and attention to blossom.
The simplest path is nearly always the best. Overly complicated systems, processes and procedures detract from the goal because they require more time and effort, leading to operational fatigue. This results in lower morale and less time spent working toward the goal.
Leaders can become paralyzed by a decision when there is not a clear path forward. If you want to change your path after you have made a decision, then change it. The best leaders can admit when they have made a mistake and take action to rectify a situation. There is nothing wrong with changing direction.
I am a firm believer that you need to give respect to earn respect. When you treat your employees and trade partners with respect, it is almost always reciprocated. I know that if I were to ask almost any of our employees or trade partners to help with something outside of the scope of what they typically do, they would say yes because of our mutual respect.
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There is no success without action. Don’t get caught up overly planning; take action. The “doing” will work out the bugs that aren’t accounted for while planning. The more iterations done will move the needle far more than attempting to make the perfect plan without moving forward.
Not every opportunity is the right one. A successful leader knows when to say no. As your business grows, more shiny objects (opportunities) catch your eye, but all they do is distract you from your main goal. Leaders are more effective with a singular focus than when spread among a variety of ideas.
If you want to change your path after you have made a decision, then change it.
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Contrary to what you believe, or what your mom may have told you, all the answers that you have may not be right. Lean heavily on your team and the expertise of others to refine your processes. Together, we achieve greatness.
My personal leadership style was developed by 13 years in the military. This style does not always translate well to the civilian world. I recognized a need to invest in understanding better ways to lead and found myself back in school to work on me! A master’s degree and almost a doctorate later, I am still learning how to be the best leader that I can for my organization.
When people ask how you are, and you reply “busy,” it sets a tone that you do not have time to listen to them or forces them to hurry their statement, concern or personal worry. Everyone already knows that your time is valuable; make an impact by letting them know their time is more important to you than your task.
Notes: Notes:
Generosity comes in three forms: time, talent and treasure. Use all three to make an impact in your community and in the lives of others around the world. It doesn’t have to make sense to the outsider, but God understands a giving heart and rewards your efforts.
Proverbs 11:25.
Change is hard to accept and can be received with resistance. Change is also necessary. Show your team empathy during the change process but also share the importance of it. Celebrate their efforts as the desired change materializes.
Failure is one step away from success! If you give up after failing, you will never truly receive the blessing of the lesson.
The lessons learned in failure far outweigh those in success. I tell all our new franchisees that we have failed in everything to increase your opportunities for success. We have learned the ways not to do things for you! Make sure that you are learning from those failures, though. Failure is one step away from success! If you give up after failing, you will never truly receive the blessing of the lesson.
Too often we feel the pressure of the challenge of a task and define it as stress. Stress is optional; hard work is necessary. That overwhelming feeling during difficult tasks is your mind challenging you to accomplish something desirable. Celebrate victory over accomplishing something difficult and leave stress behind. Turn these victories into passion!
A heart-led leadership style will produce results, such as compassion, buyin, high-performance teaming, innovation, happiness and service. A servant leader leads from the trenches and shares in the work experience of the team. If you don’t already, get dirty with your team and see if you can visualize what their day-to-day looks like through their eyes.
The best opportunity that this life gives you to develop leadership traits is found in the home, raising children. All eyes are always on you. All ears hear everything you say. You are challenged to raise your children to be the leader that you could never be. If you give them the foundation of leadership in your actions, they will grow into the leader they see in you. As an added benefit you will learn how to give and receive grace!
Personal mantras or affirmations will challenge you to become the best version of yourself. It will also guide your daily decision-making and assist in accomplishing your big-time goals. My personal mantra: Are you doing the best that you can do, or are you doing the best that can be done?
Mick Denniston taught me if you cast a show right, you’ve done 90% of the work, and he was right. Putting people in the right roles, whether it’s onstage or in an office, is everything. It must be the right fit for it all to mesh.
If you have cast right, let them do their work. Don’t hover. Don’t tear people down in an attempt to rebuild them because they’ll naturally end up the way they were, which is why you chose them for the role in the first place. Let people do the work, and you can tweak and torque along the way.
I always see my job as clearing the way for the staff and volunteers to have what they need to accomplish the shows, have a good time doing it and access to the tools and resources to get it all done. Fly at 30,000 feet and see the ripples. Get ahead of it.
Know what makes people tick. Some people want applause, some want to be a part of the process, and some just need an escape. Whatever the reason, listen and make people feel heard and included.
I know, seems like a no brainer. Nope. There’s a saying in theater: If you’re not 15 minutes early, you’re 15 minutes late. It only takes once to be shamed in front of 50 of your cast members because you kept them waiting for 10 minutes – you’ll never do it again. Plus, basically what you are saying to everyone is my time is more important than yours. Time is precious. Don’t waste it.
HEATHER MOSLEY
Leave the drama at the door. Yes, I said it. Leave it at the door, or keep it on the stage. It’s exhausting being around drama queens, and it distracts from the goal.
No matter what it is that you do, do it fully and with your whole heart. Don’t hold back; tell people you love them, admire them and respect them. Don’t miss the opportunity to let people know how you feel. Take a chance, because what the other person does with it has nothing to do with you.
Betsy Stack taught me this: Don’t let people hide behind excuses. If you expect excellence, you will get it. I can’t tell you how many times I hear people say, “I can’t do that,” only to realize they can and they will. It’s so rewarding and fun to watch people accomplish something they thought they were too old or scared to do. And trust me, if you dance in a Lorianne Dunn show, you can do anything.
That’s really the deal, isn’t it? People want to feel included and to be part of something they built with other people and can be proud of. Cliques are death traps that do nothing but exclude people. It’s difficult to maintain a culture of inclusiveness, but it’s one of the most important things.
And if you feel cool, you’re doing it wrong. Weird, right? But it’s true, not just in theater but in life. There’s a reason for the saying dance like nobody’s watching. Go for it. Sing like you’re in the shower; don’t keep yourself from expressing how you feel just because someone might judge you. Who cares? Cool is boring; being a “goob” is freeing. Trust me. It’s fun, I promise.
It’s difficult to maintain a culture of inclusiveness, but it’s one of the most important things.
When you care about someone, they know it. Prepare your heart to be intentionally present with that person and invest in them. Whether it’s a two-minute conversation with someone you just met or your weekly meeting with a team member, the intention you set and what you are prepared to give to the person across from you makes the difference between a productive conversation and one where the other person walks away feeling cared for and seen.
Promote and celebrate the ideas and contributions of others. One of the most powerful ways to use your voice is to cheer for and champion others. How many good ideas have died on a conference room table because no one heard the idea? Or worse, think about the ideas that were attributed to someone else entirely because they talked louder? You can prevent that. Repeat the idea, give credit to the person who suggested it (make a sign with poster board and glitter glue if you must), and ask follow-up questions. A great idea deserves to be heard, and someone brave enough to say it, even quietly, deserves to be celebrated.
Gotham City shines a big bat-shaped light when they need Batman. For me, the signal is more of a feeling, and not even my favorite kind. I know it’s time to channel my inner superhero when I feel intimidated. When that feeling starts to bubble up, I can either stay small and safe, and say nothing, or imagine what my inner superhero would do. And then I do that. When I’m intimidated and afraid to take up space in the room (on the call, at the table, etc.), I’ve found that in those moments, my superhero just gets stronger and braver.
When you observe something nice about someone, you should say it aloud for their benefit and for your own. When I intentionally began telling people positive things I observed about them, I became aware of more positive observations of others. This happened so often that an overwhelming majority of my thoughts regarding other people are positive observations. That could mean crossing the street to give someone you don’t know a compliment or making a comment totally out of context in a conversation. Focusing on the positive attributes of other people can not only change your worldview but maybe, over time, how the world sees itself.
Books are always better than their movies for many reasons. But for me, it’s that after I know how something unfolds, I lose the ability to imagine anything different. The same can be true of trying to follow the footsteps of those we admire. We limit ourselves by trying to replicate someone else’s path. The beauty and wonder of life are in the journey and following someone else’s map puts our own unrealized potential into a narrowly defined box where it was never meant to be. Celebrate those you admire and learn from them. Then, continue to dream your own dreams.
Living and leading authentically means being willing to show that you are human – flaws and all. I’m willing to say: “I made a mistake,” “I would handle that differently,” “I’m worried about,” and “I’m afraid of.” These statements shine a light on our vulnerabilities and imperfections while creating more trust and credibility in relationships than looking like we are doing everything right all the time. The imperfections, mistakes and the hard times are what bring us together and unite us. Whereas the glaringly false veneer of perfection is nothing more than a wall that separates us from others.
I love lipstick, confetti and sprinkles! Presentation makes things fun and inviting. The same goes for work. I love pretty notebooks, patterned folders, fun pens, paperclips and sticky notes. Intentionally turning everyday details into delightful elements that, even if only for me, elevate the otherwise mundane. There may be a lot we can’t control in life but working from a plain manila folder is one of them.
The next time you meet someone new, don’t ask what they do for a living. If you can find it on a name tag, business card or LinkedIn profile, you can be sure that is not the most interesting information you can learn about them. Instead, make an observation and then ask questions about it. It doesn’t matter if it is right or wildly wrong. It shows that you are looking past the obvious and are interested in genuinely knowing the person. You’ll break the ice and you’ll both be more likely to remember the interaction.
I have been given leadership roles since the age of 17 and, by conventional thinking, I have not been ready for a single one. I grew up thinking that leading meant knowing all the answers. I’ve since learned that my job isn’t to be the smartest person in the room (good thing), but to bring out the talent and expertise of the team members entrusted to me. Looking back, growth has started with a genuine curiosity about the point of view of others. Asking questions and encouraging questions from your team fosters a culture of trust in one another and builds the confidence that together, we have what we need to venture into the unknown and accomplish goals which otherwise wouldn’t be possible.
There are times when the solutions to problems or the vision of what you should do next seem to come naturally. Other times, they don’t. When I feel blocked or in a rut, I know that is my cue to throw myself into completing something hard. It doesn’t matter what, I’ve found the daily discipline of training, preparing, studying or otherwise working toward a big personal goal, stimulates my mind and spurs new patterns of thought.
If growth is your goal, be a “learn it all” not a “know it all.”
We should take the time to pause in our day. Shut off the cell phone and the distractions around you. Find a specific time or multiple times during the day. Stop. Pause. Breathe. Think about the activities of your day. Replay the events of the day. Say a prayer of thanks and move out with action and energy to meet those in your path today.
Our ministry at Mercy was formed by a group of women who were completely focused on service. The Sisters of Mercy, who were founded in Ireland in 1831, taught that we must “seek out and put the needs of others first.” They became known as the “Walking Sisters” as they left their convents and served in the communities where the needs were greatest. How can I place the needs of others first throughout my day? It can make another person’s day and bring me such joy.
I was blessed with wonderful parents. Dad was a social worker and mom a nurse. I loved watching my dad’s interactions with people. He spoke to everyone, greeting by name and always sharing a smile. At the end of his interactions, he would say, “Keep the faith.” I didn’t think much of that as a kid, but over time I saw the positive impact on others. In a very simple way, Dad was able to leave each encounter in a way that opened a possibility of hope, support and a reminder that God is in this with us.
I have been privileged to serve at Mercy now for 33 years. In the early days, we had the Sisters of Mercy working everywhere throughout our ministry, and they were a constant reminder of our mission. Over time, as their numbers declined, leadership created a new organizational model, and they turned the ministry over to lay leaders. We promised to maintain the ministry in the heritage of the sisters, and so we infuse the notion of mission and our values into all we do. From hiring and orientation to our daily operations and decision-making, we hold our mission and values as our guide. I am so often told by job candidates that they experienced Mercy’s mission very tangibly in their interview process.
HEATHER MOSLEY
You just never know what will happen when you stretch your interests. In high school, I had a wonderful religion teacher who also directed the choir and musicals. He sought to break down the social cliques in school and had an amazing way to reach out to all groups and engage them in the fine arts. As a result, our musicals included state athletes, National Honor Society members and some pretty good actors. In college, I tagged along with a friend to attend a Christmas concert so he could see a young co-ed sing. After the performance, I couldn’t help but ask that singer out. She said no. Soon after, I tried out and joined the choir. There was no way I should have made it, but they must have needed a skinny kid with a high voice. Not only was this unexpected extracurricular activity a stretch and so very fun, Dawn and I have now been married for 36 years. Thank goodness I joined the choir!
To paraphrase the founder of Mercy, God never calls us to any state or for any end without giving us the help to carry it through. In the scriptures, we see time and again a reluctant leader who is called to step forward. Actually, we have references to “fear not” 365 times in scripture –one for every day of the year! I have often thought that I don’t have the experience or expertise for a certain challenge. We certainly did not have the knowledge needed as we navigated the pandemic. I really became fond of the fact that God does not call the equipped. Rather, he equips the called.
I almost always start email communication with a “Hey, friend” salutation. I remember first hearing one of my sons as a toddler saying “Hi, friend” to another child at Mercy’s day care. It struck me as such a positive and simple way to connect and a great start to any communication in writing or in person. It has caught on, and it sets a positive tone for even a difficult conversation. At the Last Supper, one of the things Jesus said to the 12 was “I call you friends.” What a statement worthy of repeating! This simple phrase helps place us in a space of belonging and respect with each interaction.
How often do we have that dreaded Sunday night feeling that in the morning it was time for school or work? A few years ago, I started an intentional mind shift to reflect on the good of the weekend and be grateful for a new week with so many possibilities. When I walk into a Mercy facility, I look up at the cross on the building and give a word of thanks for the day, my family and the gifts of the week ahead. What a difference it can make in a colleague’s day when we approach it with a positive mindset and a genuine focus on those we encounter.
Between big initiatives or challenging weeks, I simply tell myself I am on vacation. It might be for just a few hours before an upcoming commitment or during the drive home, but I choose to shut down the computer and phone and picture being in a place of quiet, take a nap or listen to a podcast that brings fulfillment. It seems so simple, and yet it works wonders for me to be ready for the next opportunity or challenge.
In a place like Mercy, we can spend a lot of time in the elevators going from meetings and carrying out the work of the day. Those moments may be silent with eyes down. We encounter people who are experiencing great pain and uncertainty, people who are full of joy given the birth of their little one, and those who are frightened and lost. I like to think of this time as a moment to connect, reassure and maybe even bring a moment of levity. Our lives are moments of joys and sufferings intermingled (to paraphrase Catherine McAuley). By sharing a few words, a smile or a prayer, we can make a difference in that moment.
You are hired to do a job and do it to the best of your ability, but you will never get the important family time back. Keep perspective of the big thing called life. Be the best you can be, work hard and lead your people, but don’t lose sight of the important people at home that are your family! Provide an environment that allows your team members to feel that family is truly a priority in your organization.
Never lose sight of who you are. Stay true to your values, character and integrity. Establish your core values and live by them in your personal and professional life. There is peace of mind knowing that every decision is consistent with your values. Being true to oneself breeds self-confidence. Don’t allow pressures and trying to climb the ladder of success steer you away from the real you! When seeking a position within an organization, try and figure out if their core values and mission align with yours.
You will only be as good as the people you surround yourself with. So, go and get highcharacter, hardworking and trustworthy people to be on your team. Don’t be afraid to get people who are better than you – they can help strengthen your weaknesses. Loyalty is so crucial in the workplace. You don’t need “yes” people all the time but people that will have your back, present a united front and challenge you to be better.
Get to know those that you are leading and focus on building those relationships. The saying “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” is so true. Let them know they are respected, valued and cared for. You will be amazed how quickly they will want to do their best work and reach their true potential.
Serve others, and be there for your team! A good leader has humility and puts others first. Be appreciative of what your people are doing, the value they bring to your organization and the job they are doing. Being a servant leader is both a mindset and a skill – focus on it every day. Encourage a “we” mindset, foster leadership in others and inspire vision. Strive each day to be considerate of others. It’s been said only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.
Strive each day to be considerate of others. It’s been said only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.
Never expect something from those you lead that you do not expect from yourself. You must be the trendsetter for all that your organization stands for. Most people want to be held accountable. So, set clear expectations, have a common purpose and a plan to reach your goals. Help your team members grow and learn. Communication is certainly a key component to accountability and holding people to a standard of excellence.
In today’s world, mental health issues are at an all-time high. The stressors of everyday life seem insurmountable at times, and the variables are many. You are not always going to be able to control everything that you would like to, so recognize that and act accordingly. Focus on what you can control, such as your attitude, efforts and how you treat others – as well as your reactions to situations.
Get out of your office! You can’t lead tied to your computer and behind a closed door. You need to see what others are doing to help your organization. Go sit in their office and be a part of their world. Visibility will help build trust, accountability and support. Being visible will strengthen relationships and show a commitment to a strong culture of togetherness.
Create an open-door environment. Establish a culture of open and honest communication. Listen! Much of this goes back to developing relationships and creating the trust that makes people feel comfortable. It does not mean every time they walk through the door, they are going to get what they want or hear what they want to hear. Tough conversations are not fun or easy – they are just that, tough. But being able to speak candidly with people usually results in positive outcomes. If we are honest, our integrity will not allow us to compromise.
You can be the final decision-maker while still having the ability to be flexible and open-minded. Listening to others is important, and valuing their input into the goals and outcomes can go a long way in a trusting culture. By simply recognizing and respecting other’s beliefs you will build strong relationships within your team. Being able to adjust to change and unexpected events is also part of being flexible.
At Silver Dollar City, we are motivated by annual strategic plans, in-depth research, goalattainment and performance reviews. Performance agreements, crafted with each individual, guide expected measurable, numerical results to include personal improvement and companywide financial pillars. If we don’t set measurable goals, how do we know when we reach success? Bonus rewards come with hard-earned work.
Murky understanding of responsibilities creates confusion over who is in charge of what decisions. Early on, I had more responsibility than authority, and the stress was detrimental to my being and my relationships. Knowing your guard rails, levels of decision making and extent of authority allows a strategic path to results. With well-defined roles, if we hit roadblocks or questionable cooperation, there is a plan in place to address issues.
Positive energy propels us to maximize opportunity and be “all-in” dedicated. I fiercely believe in the companies where I have worked – the essence of who/ what we are, within cultures where people thrive. If you are in a work situation where you do not feel inspired, find a company seeking your unique gifts where you can flourish. Believe in yourself and your product!
This is not my forte. I always want to speak up, as it’s a challenge for me to actively listen and wait for the appropriate time to provide thoughts. I have to filter all that pops into my head and place it somewhere – be it the margin for later discussion, future pondering or throw it away. The pause allows me to better formulate a response of defining, not defending. In the end, we can agree to disagree, yet move forward.
Knowing your guard rails, levels of decision making and extent of authority allows a strategic path to results.
My personal – albeit odd – mantra guides me through tough times in determining direction. I have always been obsessed with Africa, at a young age dreaming of being there and projecting what I wanted in the future. Upon graduating college, the anxiety of where to turn set in. What did I do? I went to Africa. Soon thereafter, the cloudiness and fear dissipated as my future took shape. Visualizing the path ahead works for me; perhaps set a mantra for yourself.
Coined by the manager of Kenny Rogers, who I worked with for several years, a relationship strategy is profoundly valuable. Becoming a leader takes a wide network. That web is strengthened through follow-up, staying in contact and genuinely asking about others’ lives or circumstances. A network of “work friends” is invaluable.
Day-to-day cryptic talk/text/email of assignments isn’t fair. Don’t assume people will figure out what you mean. Prone to quickly talking, texting, emailing and scribbling, something called “Lisa Talk” evolved within my team. Others were left to decipher the message. This is not right, period. People want to accomplish what’s expected of them, and we owe them clear guidance.
Years ago, I pushed people too hard. After all, it worked on me with bosses who knew by challenging me, I worked harder. But it felt awful to be on the receiving end and, yes, when dishing it out, too. SDC didn’t give up on me; instead they gave me an executive coach who had no problem calling me out on behavior, thinking or strategies. Leaders need to develop skills and learn lessons along the way.
It takes courage to be a leader who genuinely wants good for others. If we focus on ourselves, the team will not trust. Supportive energy nets shared ownership, credit and satisfaction. For those with promise, give a step up, encouragement and even tough love. Our marketing VP, my current boss who has always worked to better herself, was on my PR team for a substantial part of the 1990s. I hope the early role I played in her career, and in others, was impactful – both in “how to” and “how not to.”
While the phrase work-life balance may seem cliche, it takes commitment to make it work. I believe results-driven workplaces with high-bar expectations can leave us hollow unless we feel valued. A culture that has heart and soul, believes in the people and practices respect for one another, is invaluable. And we each must remember that time away refreshes enthusiasm. Or that leaving for yoga or visiting with friends restores energy and nourishes the soul. Sometimes what’s on your desk just needs to wait.
