When I participated in a strategy session several months ago, I was directed to select two attributes from a pile of cards that best reflected my leadership ethos. From a swath of more than 40, each card with one attribute written across the top, I selected Gratitude and Courage. I carried those two words around with me for the rest of that day and upon returning to my desk, pinned them on the bulletin board where they are still stuck today.
In reflection, I couldn’t have imagined two attributes could so completely frame how I see the world. Yet, courage and gratitude have long been the foundations of my work. They have helped me grow strong strategic leaders who value innovation and progress, and more meaningfully, gifted me a network of humans with whom I have shared deep belly laughs, tears of triumph, and many momentous occasions.
Without a doubt, I’ve been incredibly lucky to walk alongside some of the most driven and talented individuals in the creative and credit union industries. To see my teammates, good souls I’ve coached and supported in their brilliance and careers, grow into exceptional leaders in new executive level positions is amongst my most valued life experiences. I am so very fortunate to call many of them my friends, whether we still work together or not, because of the time we spent together in our careers.
It took time for me to understand what my leadership looked like, to understand who I was and how I wanted to show up for others, influenced heavily by what I appreciated in my mentors and what I knew did not serve me well.
Let people really see the real you. Your vulnerability matters. When it’s hard and when it’s fun.
Show up for them when it didn’t go well. Rarely is anyone better at letting us know we’ve screwed up than the voice in our head. We usually don’t need someone else telling us we should have done better. Instead, we need someone we trust telling us to get back in the game.
When they have a setback, ask yourself what your role as their leader was. Knowing what you could you have done differently sizes the conversation appropriately. You both get a shot to do better.
Give them credit. Tell your leader and your colleagues about this someone special. Position their path to success with their desires in mind. You shine when they shine.
Tell them just how great they are and mean it. Reflect to them all the gifts you see. Point out when those strengths show up in their work and share how those gifts could be even more impactful.
Believe in them when they don’t believe in themselves. Doing new things is so hard, it can be all-consuming. I’ve especially found this to be true for high performers who want everything to go right. Ask questions. Quiet doubt by answering challenges together.
Know when it’s time for real talk. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows. Know when it’s time to call a teammate out on their stuff.
Don’t have all the answers. Help them lean into their own gut. Leave pause and space for thoughtfulness. Ask bigger questions than you’ve been asked. Create reflection and spur curiosity.
Show them leadership. Be brave and bold in your own shoes. Take calculated moonshots. Celebrate when they work out. Be sad when they don’t. In both cases, keep going.
Say thank you. For the big stuff. For the little things. For being them. For the gift to be a part of their career journey.
The very most important work we can do in executive leadership is to grow more leaders.
For our organizations, for the future of the industry, and for them, as humans.
For the dreams they’ve recognized and for the ones you’ll bring to life together.
I can think of no greater gift for us all than to show our teammates what they are truly capable of, and support them through it.
orsa, the credit union you knew as Community Financial Credit Union (CFCU)