Rachel Fears

Leadership lessons

One of the most important things I’ve learned is that having a good support system is absolutely indispensable. Seek advice from others who have been where you are and by all means don’t be afraid to ask for help. Find good mentors and be a good mentor. You learn just as much from teaching others as you do from learning from others. 

Don’t stress if something goes sideways. Learn from it, overcome it and move on. Learn and grow from your mistakes but don’t forget to make time to celebrate the wins. You never fail if you don’t give up because failure is always an opportunity to learn. By the same token, you don’t know what you don’t know so continue to learn and be an example so others want to continue to learn and grow as well. 

Goal setting has been a game changer for me. Not just saying that I’m going to set goals but actually writing them down and having an accountability partner. 

Influential books

• “The Mindset” by Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., was instrumental in showing me the importance of embracing change and having a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset. 

• “The Power of Consistency” by Weldon Long taught me that if you consistently do something, you will eventually do it well. 

Leadership is not about micromanaging but empowering those around you to make the best decisions based on the facts at hand rather than emotions. It is about inspiring and uplifting your team so they can do their best. It is continuing to create a culture where everyone feels included and encouraged to disagree and there is an open line of communication, because smart leaders know that most great ideas come from team members who feel empowered and confident.