Host Christi Scarrow and Lorrey Arial Bonilla, Executive Director at ECCDC, discuss key lessons in leadership, emphasizing the importance of relationships, networking, and work-life balance. She highlights the need for strong communications with boards, staff, funders, and stakeholders, and the value of seeking external support to avoid isolation. Lorrey stresses the importance of resiliency, time management, and prioritizing tasks to prevent burnout. She also underscores the significance of regular goal-setting meetings and open dialogues to understand staff needs and improve engagement. Finally, she advises on recognizing staff efforts through various forms of appreciation to foster a supportive and motivated team.

Action Items

-Send thank you cards as a form of recognition. -Identify and model a work-life balance -Look for new ways to connect and acknowledge your team members

Outline Early Lessons in Leadership

-Lorrey shares her extensive experience at ECCDC, having been with the organization for 28 years and in her current position for nine years. -Lorrey identifies three key lessons: the importance of relationships, networking, and work-life balance.

The Importance of Relationships

-Lorrey emphasizes the significance of strong relationships with the board, staff, funders, and stakeholders. -She highlights the need for respectful, transparent, and responsive relationships with stakeholders. -Lorrey discusses the importance of networking and seeking support from peers and colleagues in similar roles. -Christi reinforces the value of networking, sharing her own experience of not prioritizing it enough in her corporate role.

Balancing Work and Life

-Lorrey identifies work-life balance as a crucial lesson, emphasizing the need to prioritize and manage time effectively. -She discusses the challenges of avoiding the habit of working late and the importance of modeling a healthy work-life balance for staff. -Christi agrees, noting the tendency for purpose-driven organizations to require long hours, which can lead to burnout. -Lorrey mentions the need to trust staff to manage their own workload and not to fall into the routine of working late regularly.

Staffing Challenges and Solutions

-Lorrey identifies staffing as a significant challenge, focusing on recognizing and leveraging staff strengths and interests. -She discusses the balance between creating independent work environments and providing necessary support and coaching. -Christi acknowledges the common struggle with staffing and asks for Lorrey's insights on when to step in and when to step back. -Lorrey emphasizes the importance of regular goal-setting meetings and open dialog to understand staff needs and provide appropriate support.

Recognition and Support Strategies

-Lorrey highlights the importance of recognizing staff efforts through various means, from quick emails to formal celebrations. -She provides examples of different recognition strategies, including thank-you cards, team gatherings, and raffles for time off. -Christi shares a personal example of receiving a thank-you card from Lorrey, emphasizing the impact of small gestures. -Lorrey advises being kind and patient to oneself, taking baby steps, and viewing challenges as learning opportunities rather than personal setbacks.

Final Thoughts and Advice

-Lorrey encourages managers to look for new ways to connect with staff and recognize their efforts in meaningful ways. -She emphasizes the importance of being open to challenges and learning from them. -Christi thanks Lorrey for her insights and advice, and encourages listeners to find resources on navigating leadership challenges. -The conversation concludes with mutual appreciation and well-wishes.

Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: ECCDC

Lighthouse NINE Group: Web page

Contributors

Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman
Editing: tribe74

Yves Dalcourt, Managing Director at Miele in Australia and New Zealand, discusses his leadership experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of personal connection, daily communication, and creating a positive culture. Dalcourt highlights initiatives like the "song of the day" and consistent email updates to maintain morale. He also shares his philosophy of valuing employees as "heartbeats" rather than just head counts. Reflecting on his career, he stresses authenticity, adapting to different generations, and learning from both good and bad leaders.

Action Items

-Continue to build personal connections with employees and foster a strong, collaborative culture. Implement creative, engaging activities to keep the team motivated and connected during challenging times. -Maintain consistent, transparent communication with the entire organization to provide direction and reassurance. -Adapt leadership style to effectively connect with and support the needs of younger, more tech-savvy employees.

Outline

Strategies for Leading During a Pandemic

-Yves explains the two main strategies he and his management team developed: prioritizing the health and safety of employees and ensuring the business could continue. -He emphasizes the importance of personal connection and daily communication with employees for reassurance and to build trust. -He initiated a "song of the day" activity to keep employees engaged and connected.

Building a Culture of Connection

-Yves discusses the importance of personal connection in leadership, using the term "heartbeats" instead of "head counts" to emphasize the human element. -He shares how this focus on personal connection helped create a strong company culture and engagement, even during challenging times. -He highlights the long-term positive impact on the company's culture and engagement, emphasizing the importance of not wasting a crisis.

Lessons Learned from Early Leadership Experiences

-Yves recounts his first job experience, where the CEO failed to acknowledge him, which shaped his commitment to connecting with employees. -He emphasizes the importance of being an authentic leader who values human connection and adapts to different situations and environments. -Yves shares how he learned from both good and bad leaders, taking the best practices and avoiding the negative traits.

Navigating Challenges with Bad Leaders

-Yves recommends understanding the needs and communication preferences to build trust and establish a connection. -He emphasizes the importance of not getting emotionally involved and focusing on the end goal when dealing with difficult bosses. -Yves suggests having a good network outside the workplace to vent and share similar experiences, which can provide support and perspective.

Adapting to Different Generations and New Leaders

-Yves discusses the importance of understanding different perspectives and needs. -He shares how his daughter, who is a millennial, helps him connect with this generation and adapt his leadership style. -Yves emphasizes the need to be relevant and connect with new leaders to shape them for the future of the business.

Final Thoughts on Leadership and Personal Connection

-Yves advises leaders to have fun and not take their roles too seriously, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the journey. -He encourages others to surround themself with great people. -Yves shares his belief that leaders should not feel the need to have all the answers and should be comfortable with not knowing everything. -He concludes by encouraging leaders to focus on the positive and not let stress and challenges overwhelm them, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptability.

Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: Miele

Lighthouse NINE Group: Web page

Contributors

Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

Editing: tribe74