Nyla Milleson

Director of Athletics, Drury University

72

Family first.

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.

Be true to yourself.

71

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.

73 Surround yourself with good people.

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.

Notes:

75

74 Lead with compassion.

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.

Be a servant leader.

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.

Hold yourself and others accountable.

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.

78 Be visible.

77 Control what you can control.

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.

Lead with honesty.

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.

Be flexible and open-minded.

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.