Leadership Style
While my title is VP of Employee Development, my role here at Phoenix is all about culture. I do the culture training, leadership development training, and creation of hiring filters which are all culture related. The culture of an organization is the secret sauce to its success or failure.
To that end, I believe that great leaders are others-centered as opposed to being self-centered. They look through the eyes of those they serve and help them achieve success, thereby achieving their own success. That’s a principle that I never walk away from.
Good leaders are also purpose based, having a vision that includes a “why?”. Why are we doing what we do? Why will it make a difference? Allowing people to see themselves in that vision and purpose allows them to become invested in being a part of it.
Leadership is relationship based, and never based on process or procedure. This requires flexibility. I don’t like the idea of mandating treating everyone the same way. High performers should be receiving praise, gratitude and attention that isn’t afforded to low performers.
Leadership Lesson and Legacy
For many years early in my career, I was facilitating learning sessions with my mentor. After the events, this long-term client would typically call me back up to the stage and thank me. Often, they would give me flowers and gifts. At one event, they forgot, and I was a bit hurt, honestly. My mentor pulled me aside and told me that was the greatest job I had ever done. When I asked if he was just trying to make me feel better, he said, “No. It was the greatest job you’ve ever done because they think they did it themselves and that is the sign of a great leader.” I was young and that really imprinted on me. It’s what informed my others-centered style of leading and it’s what I try to impart to future leaders. It’s not about the leader, it’s about helping others succeed. Leaders are judged by the quality of contributors they have grown.
