Lexie Rasmussen

Leadership style

I have learned so much from inspirational speaker and employee engagement expert Lisa Ryan. She spoke at a Women in HVAC conference I attended, and I was so blown away I wrote down every single word she said. She employs a method called “grategy” or the strategy of gratitude. 

Making sure that others are aware of my gratitude for their help is a huge part of my leadership style. Acknowledging and appreciating the help of others is also a key part of grategy. 

When people feel like they can come to you for help, that’s a great feeling.

Leadership lessons

• Don’t be afraid to speak up. I am, by nature, a fairly shy and reserved person and those characteristics were only enhanced by being in a male-dominated field, but I learned very quickly that if I didn’t have the confidence to speak up and ask questions, then I was not going to succeed in this field. I always tell my team not to be afraid to reach out to me because the only way to truly learn something is to trust those who’ve gone before you and ask them for help and advice. Overcoming my shyness has not only helped me grow my career, but also lets me help others on their paths. 

• Don’t lean on thin copper. Okay, so this one is pretty specific to those who work in HVAC but it’s still really important. I was doing a furnace inspection and a copper pipe was in the way, so I leaned against it, snapping it and flooding an entire sorority house. I like to think of it as a metaphor for leaders: it’s best to lean on the strong ones.

• Don’t try to do everything on your own. I started in HVAC knowing nothing. I learned it’s absolutely okay to depend on others for help. 

Leadership isn’t only about making decisions. It’s also about listening, understanding and teaching others to ask for help.