Walk Into the Future

Tag: Development

  • The Voice of a Leader

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    “True leadership stems from individuality that is honestly and sometimes imperfectly expressed—Leaders should strive for authenticity over perfection”.

    (Sheryl Sandberg)

    Had a great lunch meeting and chat with one of my Orlando tree branches at the end of May.  We were able to catch up before my scheduled guest speaking role on the Intern Pursuit podcast.  Always love catching up with my tree branches in-person and jumped at the chance to hear the great things she was doing in Orlando with her small business marketing firm.

    We were able to share professional and life updates during this visit and got into the concept of leadership in the workplace.  Just general stuff but I’m a big believer in leadership development and the impact ‘good’ leadership can have on the work environment.

    Most people have heard numerous leadership styles mentioned:  transactional, transformational, authoritative, authentic, etc.  I recommend new leaders have a good understanding of multiple leadership styles and then work to find their inner voice within the work environment.

    What’s your inner voice?  This concept can be used to determine your true leadership style and then put things into place to ensure your work environment and people can grow.  I tell anyone who listens I’m a huge believer in the authentic leadership style.  Guess what, authentic leadership takes some of the best aspects of other leadership styles and packages them into a concise, four variable approach to leadership.  The variables of self-awareness, relational transparency, internalized moral perspective and balanced processing are used by authentic leaders to develop their inner leadership voice.  An authentic leader needs to ensure these variables are on display and utilized daily to truly be an authentic leader.

    Please note, all leadership styles have variables of some level.  Transformational leaders are called ‘quiet leaders’ because they are described as leading by example.  Transactional leaders can be viewed as reactive and ‘may’ be more beneficial within large corporation settings.

    So, as you can see, there are a lot of leadership styles available to new and experienced leaders.

    “It can be done.  Leaders make things happen.  If one approach doesn’t work, find another”.

    (Colin Powell)

    The key to finding your leadership inner voice is assessment of your work environment and flexibility.  I can say I practice authentic leadership, but this style may not be practical for every direct report.  A direct report who is not performing to standards may need daily transactional interactions whereas the rest of the staff thrive with the authentic leadership environment created.  Knowing the needs of your staff is something that comes with experience, lots of reading and training.  The ability to adapt to changing work situations and needs of direct reports allows a leader to impact the work environment in a positive manner.

    It’s okay to take a personal interest in direct reports and things they are interested in.  You may be able to adjust work assignments to keep them engaged based on strengths and interests.  It’s also okay if you can’t accommodate everything your staff would like to do in the work environment.  Example:  staff may want to work from home but if that model does not fit the mission then it’s up to the leader to say so.  Saying no in this situation is not a personal attack, it’s just the way the organization must operate.

    A lot goes into being a leader.  Understanding leadership styles, your strengths and weaknesses as well as continual learning will help as you develop your inner leadership voice.

    “Outstanding leaders go out of the way to boost the self-esteem of their staff.  If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish”.

    (Sam Walton)

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  • Teacher’s pet—Lifelong impact of my favorite teacher

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    ‘I am not a teacher, but an awakener.’

    (Robert Frost)

    Who is your favorite teacher?  What did this person do to hold the distinction of your favorite?  Do you emulate the characteristics they displayed towards you?  How has this person impacted your journey?  (Trick question)

    Decided to reverse my normal pattern and get right to the questions I wanted to pose to readers.

    I’ve been contemplating writing something about teachers or role models for a while.  Just needed a little inspiration and a logical way to highlight the importance of my favorite teacher and how the Walk into the Future blog technically originated in a Typing 1 high school course.

    Mattie Fouraker

    Mattie Fouraker is my favorite teacher.  Please note, I’ve had some amazing folks to guide me throughout my entire journey, but Mrs. Fouraker provided me with the tool I use every day—the ability to type.

    The Typing 1 class was an elective I decided to take in the 10th grade.  My main reason for taking the class was it was full of young ladies who had an interest in typing.  My interest was being in a class full of young ladies—almost had the class to myself but one of my male friends decided to join me.

    My goal was to just sit in the class and do as little as possible—had no idea typing would be a central part of my adult life.  Mrs. Fouraker must have read my ‘thought bubble’ for why I was in her class.  She told me on day one that she expected me to keep up and perform as well as the rest of the class.  She never wavered on her expectations for me and provided the encouragement to learn, perform and get better every day.    My competitive nature came out as well because I wanted to get faster and more accurate.

    Practice, repetition and encouragement produced results that allowed me to win a typing award for speed and accuracy.  I finished as the fastest and most accurate student in the class to the amazement of the other students.  My status didn’t faze Mrs. Fouraker because she saw ‘promise’ in me and nurtured the process to ensure I was successful—she even made a point to keep the young ladies in the class away from ‘me’ so I didn’t get distracted.

    I had no idea at the time how valuable this class and Mrs. Fouraker’s guidance would be on my future!

    Mrs. Fouraker and I still communicate to this day and she always asks me if I still type 65 words per minute. 😊 She occasionally reads my blog, so hoping she enjoys the fact I’m still typing away.

    Projects (Book, dissertation)

    My time in the Air Force allowed me to perform multiple roles:  computer analyst, instructor, leader and event planner.  The skill that overlapped in all these roles was my ability to type.  The computer analyst role required I write code for hours on end.  The amount of coding and testing we were able to complete was enhanced because of my typing speed and accuracy.  Who knew a class in 10th grade would impact the Air Force mission so much!

    I was able to fulfill a lifelong goal in 2010 when I published a book.  The ability to type provided me with the foundation to generate enough content prior to editing the book.  Typing allows me to get my thoughts down since I’ve never been able to keep up with my ‘active’ thoughts writing by hand.  This also helps because I don’t have the greatest handwriting and have trouble trying to decipher ‘what’ I was trying to express—typing eliminates these issues for me AND anyone trying to read my writing.

    My PhD dissertation topped out at 107 total pages, but I wrote about 3 times that amount of material to get to my finished product.  Mandatory edits presented to me by the dissertation committee members were quickly incorporated within the document with ease.  The typing lessons learned (proper hand placement, key locations, etc.) allowed me to complete this task within minimal time and check off another major milestone in my journey.

    Blog

    The published Walk into the Future articles are another example of Mrs. Fouraker’s impact.  Most of the published articles are conceived and written in one session.  I normally take a topic (suggested by a tree branch, personal experience, current topic, etc.) and sit down to find my inspiration to write.  I sit down and begin typing once I identify an angle I want to take with the article.  I can always go back and edit things to make more concise but most of what you read in the Walk into the Future blog was thought of and written in the same session.  Lessons learned in that 10th grade typing class provide me with the capability to generate ideas and get them down quickly.  FYI, I still don’t look at the keys or my hands when typing! 😉

    Thanks!

    Thanks to Mrs. Fouraker for providing me with tools I have leveraged my entire adult life.  Her dedication and patience displayed years ago enables me to chronicle my current Walk into the Future and continue to move forward—well done!!!

    ‘What we learn with pleasure we never forget.’

    (Alfred Mercier)

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  • Get up, Stand up!

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    ‘Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.’

    (Winston S. Churchill)

    Most people who talk to me or read the Walk into the Future blog know I have a love for reggae music.  Growing up I favored other music genres but never could get into reggae.  Really, I never took the time to truly ‘listen’ to the artists because I spent more time trying to hear something familiar as oppose to what was really being said.

    Long story shorten, Reggae is what I listen to about 85% of the time when I have headphones on.  Hearing Reggae live in Negril, Jamaica was my turning point and I continue to gravitate to the beats and stories daily.

    • Reggae: a style of Jamaican music blending blues, calypso, and rock and roll, characterized by a strong syncopated rhythm and lyrics of social protest.   (Dictionary.com)

    Bob Marley released his classic song ‘Get up, Stand up’ in 1973.  The intent for Bob Marley and Peter Tosh was to make a statement and speaks to a level of persistence in life.

    Decided to revisit this classic song today from an angle to provide an ‘irie’ slant to my current Walk into the Future.  I was in negotiations with an organization to provide professional development training for their staff later in the year.  I was excited for the opportunity to make a positive difference for the staff and organization.

    The organization ‘smartly’ surveyed staff members to get their input into the direction of the professional development training and discovered staff wanted/needed something else.  They let me know they were going in another direction based on staff needs.  FYI—I fully support the new direction they decided to go because staff identified what they needed—the goal is to build the organization based on their needs.

    Most blog posts I describe my Walk into the Future with all the positive things it has brought me.  I share this story to remind readers that even though I’m enjoying every day of my current walk, I too experience things that don’t always go my way.  No worries!

    Bob Marley reminds me to, “Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight”.  I view this small setback as an opportunity to sharpen my skills to ensure I can deliver additional speaking platforms to maximize organizations’ growth potential.  This is just one step of many on my Walk into the Future—I’m still moving forward.  Also, I have already started on my next proposal for the same organization because I haven’t given up the fight!  😊

    My persistence remains and I will continue to find ways to make a difference! Everything Irie!

    How do you handle setbacks?  What tools do you utilize to bounce back?  Curious, thanks!

    ‘The most interesting thing about a postage stamp is the persistence with which it sticks to its job.’

    (Napoleon Hill)

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  • Planting trees–Who gave you a chance?

    ‘I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity.’

    (Oprah Winfrey)

    I continue to express the benefits of building effective partnerships and how networking can enhance this process.

    My current Walk into the Future provides multiple opportunities for partnering and networking to continue to make a difference in the world.  Current relationships (mentors, tree branches, etc.) can be instrumental for the development of new opportunities.

    I was virtually introduced to Isabella Johnston from Intern Pursuit through a mutual friend.  We connected via LinkedIn and then followed up with a phone call to learn more about how we could partner (if possible) in the future.  Happy to say Isabella’s role with Intern Pursuit and other projects she has in the Central Florida area are making a difference daily.  Enjoyed learning about the exciting things she is working on and will roll out later this year.

    We discussed the possibility of me coming down to participate as a guest speaker for her Intern Whisperer Podcast.  Participating on the podcast seemed like a perfect partnership so I was happy to accept the offer to continue to work with Isabella and her staff.

    What a great experience to meet Isabella, her staff and recording the podcast!  Very engaging format with questions designed to allow me to provide professional and leadership advice to listeners of the podcast.  Had a blast with the entire process and looking forward to continuing this newly formed partnership.

    An interesting aspect to my trip down to Orlando was I had lunch with a ‘tree branch’ prior to recording the podcast.  I had breakfast the next morning with another ‘tree branch’—tried to get a lot accomplished in minimal time.  The interesting part of my connecting with my Orlando tree branches is they both know (know of) Isabella and her work and she is familiar with their work.  They are all master networkers, so I’m not surprised these folks all know each other—looks like I was the last one to the party! 😊

    Who gave you a chance?

    One question that was presented to me during the podcast was ‘Who gave you a chance’?

    You can hear my full answer by listening to the podcast.  I’ve had a lot of great people mentor me over the years but my answer to this question is Ann Loyd.  Ann allowed me to transition from the Air Force into a role within the Macon State College Career Center.  Nothing in my professional background directly translated to career services but Ann took the chance my dedication and passion to help others would translate.  Happy to say it did—I’m still making a difference because Ann saw something in me and helped me shape my world view on helping students succeed.  My Walk into the Future started with the chance she gave me.

     ‘It is the responsibility of leadership to provide opportunity, and the responsibility of individuals to contribute.’

    (William Pollard)

    So, I pose the same question to you–Who gave you a chance?  Who will you give a chance to?  Interested in your thoughts—thanks!

    Intern Pursuit May 2019

     

     

  • Making a Difference (Daily)

    Make a Difference May 2019

    I start each day with the purpose of making a difference.  Changing the entire world continues to prove to be beyond my ‘super powers’ so I focus on the small victories in life.

    The picture above hangs next to my front door, so I must pass it on my way out into the world.  It is a simple reminder to ensure my focus remains on the small victories in life that can make a difference to someone.

    My psychology educational background was selected because of a desire to understand others better.  My thought process has always been to understand what makes people do or think what they do.  Psychology provided me with the foundation to understand the importance of helping others.  Please note, helping someone can be as simple as asking them how their day is going.  Doesn’t have to get super deep to impact someone you cross paths with regularly.

    I’ve written about the benefits of volunteering in the local community.  This small step can be a huge difference maker for your local community and especially someone who benefits from the organization you volunteer with.  Volunteer multiple times with an organization and you will begin to put smiles on the faces of people within the organization.

    Mentoring others has always been a huge part of my daily routine.  My current Walk into the Future allows me additional time to reach out to my tree branches and put focus on topics they want to explore.  We always did this but now my availability enhances how often we get to check in.  I enjoy catching up with my tree branches and hearing the great things ‘they’ are doing in the world.  Following their progress and seeing how they make a difference is a highlight for me.

    I’m able to expand my reach beyond my current tree branches because of my availability.  Students and organizations I was not engaged with prior are reaching out for me to help them move forward.  Some of the students knew me at FSU in passing or had a friend work with me and recommended they reach out.   I find this ‘underground referral’ process a bit flattering and it shows I’ve made enough of a difference for someone to put their friend in touch with me.  I never turn down these requests—the students have shown a tremendous amount of ambition by reaching out and requesting assistance.  Selfishly, I view this whole process as growing my tree—these new branches know they must help someone else move forward.

    Working with organizations is an area I would like to expand in 2019.  I currently do some professional development/leadership consulting with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.  We have several workshops planned and looking to add more to help them grow as a group.  Coordinating with a few local groups to highlight the Authentic Leadership principles for them to incorporate within their leadership development programs.  This process would expand my reach and provide a larger group to ensure I’m making a difference.

    So, until I gain additional ‘super powers’, making a difference daily is how I plan to conquer the world! 😊

    What can you do to make a difference today?  Who would benefit from hearing from you?  Don’t make them wait—reach out and make a difference!

    Make a Difference 2 May 2019

  • Walk into the Future—What it means to me

     “I walk slowly, but I never walk backwards.”

    (Abraham Lincoln)

    Wanted to dive deeper into the title of my blog, Walk into the Future.  Last year I decided to change my mindset and physical space to embark on a journey.  This journey was designed to allow me to experience a level of freedom that wasn’t present, but I knew existed—just had to open my eyes a bit and walk forward.

    Merriam Webster defines future in multiple ways, “time regarded as still to come AND what is going to happen”.  Both versions provide a flexible view and allows individuals to determine what the future means to them.

    I selected Walk into the Future as my title to embrace the future and identify the courage to move forward.  This forward approach covers personal and professional adventures as well as insight I want to share with readers.  I created this project to share my ‘walk’ and provide insight into important concepts for me.  There are days I sit down to write, and the words just come to me.  There are other days where I will reach out to my tree branches to see what they want/need to read and then develop content around their inputs.  I am keenly aware of my surroundings, so inspiration comes to me from multiple outlets, I just capture an idea and then work to develop into something readable.

    My Walk into the Future (so far) has allowed me to:

    • Post blog articles weekly
    • Get back down to Jamaica
    • Visit Paisley Park
    • Improve my half-marathon time (3 times)
    • Mentor others (in-person and virtual)
    • Serve as a professional development vendor with the Seminole Tribe of Florida
    • Gain followers for my blog
    • Inspire people
    • Live life

    I could add more things here but believe you can see the positives I’ve experienced from posting blog articles on my current walk.

    Walk into the Future has become a life style for me and I’m excited to see how it develops moving forward.

    Remember, enjoy the process—walk, don’t run!

    What does Walk into the Future mean to you?  How can you leverage this concept in your daily walk?  Interested to hear from you—thanks!

     “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”

    (Abraham Lincoln)

    Future May 2019

  • Please Feed the Unicorns

    Unicorns: something unusual, rare or unique. (Merriam-Webster)

    The term or concept of the mythical unicorn comes up in my conversations from time to time.  The unicorn can symbolize different things for people; from the image of a horse like creature with a single horn, to a magical being or someone who is unique.

    I’ve been called a unicorn in multiple settings.  I wear this designation as a badge of pride because being a unicorn means I have a uniqueness about me.

    My life and career pivots have taken me from a computer analyst, classroom instructor, conference planner (US Air Force), career specialist (Macon State College), guidance counselor (Government contractor), adjunct psychology professor (multiple schools), employee development consultant (Goodwill), employer relations (UCF & FSU) and now a blogger/consultant/speaker.  The ability to adapt and believe I can pivot into different settings/outcomes generates the unicorn concept some associate with me.

    I have a lot of great mentors and friends who provide advice and support to ensure I’m prepared for the next pivot.  The efforts from my mentors/friends/tree branches provide me with a platform to stretch my professional boundaries to ensure I’m continually growing.

    How do they do that?  They feed the unicorn:

    • Display a desire to partner
    • Willing to share knowledge
    • Expert listeners
    • Words and actions match (Consistency)
    • Regular check-ins
    • Positive affirmations
    • Tough love when needed

    The list above can be used by YOU to feed the unicorns you meet in your daily lives.  You can add more ‘feeding’ variables based on the unique situations encountered but my list is a starting point to engage others daily.  I’m sure there’s someone you work with who would benefit from being treated as a unicorn.  They may not realize their uniqueness or potential until you start to feed the unicorn.  You may be surprised by the number of unicorns around you once you start the feeding process.

    FYI—I consider everyone who follows and/or reads the Walk Into the Future blog, unicorns.  My words, thoughts, and adventures are designed to help you forge your own unique path on your personal walk.

    Thanks for inspiring and feeding me as well!

    Unicorn

  • The Big Gulp: How do you handle it?

    “I never do business with anyone where I have to take a big gulp to move forward”.

    (9 Things You Simply Must do to succeed in Love and Life)

    The quote above comes from a book written by one of my favorite authors, Dr. Henry Cloud.  It is a piece of advice he received from a mentor when faced with a big business decision.  This concept can be used in multiple situations and has been a big part of my life.

    I was able to leverage this quote with one of my most positive ‘tree branches’ last week to help with a decision she was facing.  I’m encouraged with my ability to shape this quote to help my tree branch and others when faced with tough choices.

    I was introduced to the written works of Dr. Henry Cloud during a career development course while finishing my masters program in Counseling/Human Relations.  The book was so influential it was the first college text book I decided to keep for my personal library.  Most days you will find this book on me as I refer to it constantly for additional insight.

    The Big Gulp can be defined as the apprehension you may feel prior to making a commitment.  The commitment could be business related, personal or a combination of both.  How you handle life’s Big Gulp moments can increase your level of happiness as you move forward on your Walk into the Future.

    My personal Walk into the Future has been defined by leveraging Big Gulp moments to my advantage.  I never accept deals, offers or partnerships with anyone I would have to take a Big Gulp before moving forward.  I didn’t heed this concept a few times and moved forward and regretted every minute of the partnership.  It took me a few times to experience this before I became a firm believer in this process:  when offered something I would have to take a Big Gulp before moving forward, I do not accept it.

    The opportunity may seem like the best thing ever, but the Big Gulp reaction should identify additional research is needed.  The Big Gulp reaction comes from past experiences where things didn’t seem quite right or the person offering you the deal has done things in the past to make you cautious.  Trust your instincts when faced with these situations.  Better yet, run the situation by your mentors for additional insight.  I recommend you share your apprehensions with your mentors so they can provide advice to cover all angles of the decision.  The ultimate decision belongs to you but remember the Big Gulp came from somewhere.

    Can you isolate the Big Gulp to something tangible?  Can you trust the person offering you the opportunity?  There are other things to consider, but these are a few to help jump start the process.

    Have you ever experienced a Big Gulp moment and still moved ahead?  How did that experience work out for you?

    How can you leverage the Big Gulp moving forward?  I welcome your thoughts—thanks!

    References

    Cloud, Henry. (2004) 9 Thing you simply must do to succeed in love and life. Brentwood, TN: Integrity.

  • Relational Transparency – Take your leadership to the next level

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    “The lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity”.

    (Dalai Lama)

    The concept of transparency within the work environment continues to grow.  Leaders who display relational transparency show they are willing to share information and understand direct reports, peers and supervisors want to be involved.

    The quote above provides outcomes when transparency is absent from the relational process.

    Relational transparency is an authentic leadership variable that highlights leaders should understand the impact their daily interactions can have (positive or negative) within the work environment.  Relational transparency involves the leader presenting their authentic self, which helps develop trust by sharing true thoughts and feelings and displaying appropriate emotions.  Trust develops as the leader shares information openly with all levels within the organization.  Consistency with words, thoughts and actions are staples of relational transparency.

    How can Relational Transparency improve work outcomes?

    • Creates a nurturing environment
    • Shows direct reports they are valued and appreciated
    • Helps build meaningful and transparent relationships
    • Enhances overall organizational functions
    • Should be applied to both sides of a work relationship

    Relational transparency can be leveraged to improve working relationships on multiple levels of an organization.  This process can be used when working with staff members from other departments or organizations.  Building trust when working on committees across the organization will only enhance the ability of the team to meet stated goals.  A transparent leader’s authenticity can be viewed easily throughout the organization because nothing is being hidden in daily interactions with others.

    Leaders must be willing and able to balance multiple relationship levels:  direct reports, peer to peer and supervisors.  Relational transparency provides leaders with an impactful way to build productive working relationships and enhance the overall functioning of the work environment.

    How do you display relational transparency in your work environment?  How would this authentic leadership variable enhance daily interactions?

     

     

  • Leading from the Front

    We are all leaders!  The actual title you have is not as important as understanding your impact on others you interact with.  There are people in this world with the ‘title’ that implies they are the leader, but they don’t ‘move the crowd’.

    Leading from the front can be done by everyone.

    I continue to highlight the key to effective leadership is self-awareness.  Self-awareness is needed in order to lead from the front in your daily activities.   The self-aware leader understands strengths and weaknesses, have a fully developed self-view and demonstrate they understand how their interactions impact others (direct reports, clients, colleagues, etc.).

    Things a leader can/should do:

    • Inspire people
    • Empower people
    • Lead change
    • Share a vision

    So, if you can inspire people, empower people, lead change and share a vision, you are a leader.  Again, you don’t need a specific title to be viewed as a leader.  Don’t give away your influence because a specific title is not attached to you.

    encouragement_leadership blog

    We can all lead!  Look around your current work environment. Who do you inspire daily?  How do you inspire these people?  Your level of self-awareness within the work environment creates empowerment.

    Do you need anyone’s permission to inspire your students, clients, colleagues or direct reports?  I don’t think so.  Now you need to identify/understand how you inspire others.  Are your actions positive and consistent?  Do you create an environment conducive for communicating new ideas?

    I believe empowered leaders initiate, act, and adjust within the work environment.  These things are available to all of us.  I promote to direct reports, ‘Mistakes happen, just don’t make the same mistake twice’.  Use situations like this to create an environment where your people can learn and grow.

    Leveraging your ‘Why’ can also impact how you lead from the front.  Identify why you show up every day and then ensure your leadership decisions are made to positively impact your ‘Why’.  Simple enough, huh?  It can be!

    How do you lead from the front daily?  What adjustment are needed to ensure you lead from the front in your work environment?  Thanks!