Leaving a Lasting Legacy

What do you want your legacy to be? What mark do you hope to leave in the minds and hearts of those who follow you? What are you doing to create this lasting legacy?

Dawn Perkins Buhler is a mom, wife, volunteer, public employee, and friend. She grew up in Massachusetts and has lived in Austin (happily) for 7 years. She is passionate about ending homelessness and poverty in the US, and is proud to work for the City of Austin as well as sit on the Board of the Zephaniah Community Development Corporation.  She loves to be outdoors with her family, exploring the great state of Texas, as well as spending time with her animals, all rescues. She received her MA in Cultural Anthropology from TX State San Marcos and loves all things related to the field of anthropology. 

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." Wow, this quote by John Quincy Adams really makes me stop and think each time I read it. It highlights what I believe to be a fundamental piece in leadership – inspiration. Without inspiration, there is no desire or drive to make a difference…and isn’t that what we want as leaders? We want our hard work, passion, skills, and desires to be felt by those around us and to inspire them to take a call to action. This sounds like a mighty and powerful thing, which it is, but it can also be done in smaller ways.

How will I inspire my daughter and what legacy will I leave for her? This is a big question for a new mom and it makes me reflect on the legacy that my parents have left for me. My mom inspired me to be thoughtful and kind. I remember sitting next to a student at lunch in elementary school who no-one else would sit with. I remember feeling proud that I was willing to take this risk and that I was, hopefully, making a difference in this person’s life. I believe this is the legacy my mom left – to make others feel important and good about themselves, especially when they may be feeling their worst.

My dad’s devotion has also inspired me.  At 63, he is the sole caretaker of my 86 year old grandmother and he does it with love, patience, and affection. We always tell him how lucky she is to have him in her life, but he reminds us that he is the lucky one. He inspires me with his dedication and devotion to his aging mother, something that is not always the easiest thing to do.

So, my parents inspired and lead me to be kind, thoughtful and loyal to those we love, even if it may be challenging. These are traits that I hope to pass along to my daughter. And even though she is only 18 months old, I feel that it is never too early to start her on her leadership journey. We can teach her to be kind, to share, and to be aware of others’ feelings.  Hopefully, she will also be inspired by the way that I will take care of my parents when they are aging. Of course, I hope to inspire her to live out her dreams, to be successful, and to make the most of her life, but I also hope that I inspire her to remember how important the little things are. As the anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” If Lydia can become one of those thoughtful, committed citizens, then I will be proud of the legacy that I have left for her. 

Today's post is the sixth of the SOS Leadership Austin Leading Ladies' Blog Series. The purpose of this blog series is to share the stories and insights of women who are answering the call to leadership in their lives. Come back each Friday to read more!

The Power of Mentors

Bailey Bounds is a St. Edward’s graduate who received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Writing and Rhetoric with a minor in Communication. Bailey now works as a reporter and editor for KidsWire, a source which provides business professionals with the strategies, news and insight they need to successfully engage with digitally connected kids. Bailey is also an editor for a source called Austin XL, which focuses on Austin technology and businesses. 

Everyone could use a mentor who sees their strengths, believes in them, helps seal doubts, and pushes them to succeed.

Three years ago, I met my mentor, Dr. Mary Rist, an English Writing and Rhetoric (ENGW) professor at St. Edward’s University. As a sophomore at the University, I had no idea what an impact she would have on my life.

College was difficult for me the first year. I came from a background of being a professional distraction to my peers. Unmanageable, inattentive, loud and hyperactive were all common words my grade school teachers used to describe me.

The only thing I came into St. Ed’s knowing was that I liked writing. I ended up in the Communication major, which wasn’t the best fit for me.

My classes weren’t bad, but I wasn’t extremely passionate about them either. I felt the same lack of motivation I’d felt my entire life in school, and my barely-passing grades reflected it that year. Needless to say, things needed to improve.

My redemption came in the form of the American Grammar class I took with Dr. Rist at the start of my sophomore year. Taking that class was the best decision I ever made in college. Not only did I love it, but I was good at it.

It was through the American Grammar class that I built my relationship with Dr. Rist. I can honestly say that she was one of the first teachers to truly see and believe in my potential.

I loved stopping by her office to go over homework and papers. She could see that I didn’t believe in myself and spent quite a bit of time reassuring me that I was talented. And while I ALWAYS doubted my instincts (and still do), I didn’t fail.

With Dr. Rist’s guidance, I adopted a writing major and took on my first internship as a marketing coordinator. I think she secretly knew I needed real-world experience to build my confidence and wanted to give me that push.

Switching majors changed my entire college experience. I was invested in all of my classes, a feeling I never imagined I would experience in school.

Dr. Rist kept up with me as I went through the major and even hired me to be her Revising and Editing Teaching Assistant.

The best part about her leadership was that while she is easily one of the most talented people I know, she always remained grounded and “real.” I noticed how scattered she could be and realized that to be a leader and a mentor, you don’t have to be perfect.

Leaders and mentors are just real people who have trudged through the experience and want to come back to the starting line to offer others direction.

When I graduated a year ago, Dr. Rist was sitting on the stage at the commencement ceremony. As they called my name and I began to walk, I heard her yell, “Woo! Go Bailey!” If that’s not someone who has true faith in another person, I don’t know who is.

Had I never met her, I probably wouldn’t have become an ENGW major and definitely wouldn’t have pushed myself to take on internships and develop my true passions and skills.

She believed in me. She reassured me. She pushed me to challenge myself. And she kept up and still keeps up with me to this day.

While I don’t believe one person can be completely accountable for another’s success, I do think we could all use someone like Dr. Rist who is invested enough to guide us.

Today's post is the fifth of the SOS Leadership Austin Leading Ladies' Blog Series. The purpose of this blog series is to share the stories and insights of women who are answering the call to leadership in their lives. Come back each Friday to read more!

Learn from your experiences

“Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.”

- Randy Pausch

How many times have you had a bad experience? Did you choose to complain about that experience or learn from it? I recently wrote a paper for one of my Concordia MBA courses, in which I discussed how I developed into the leader that I am today. In the paper, I wrote about a rough patch in my life during high school where I wanted nothing more than to fast-forward through it all. Although high school seems like just yesterday here I am ten years later, and I still find myself asking: what did I learn from those bad experiences?

I learned that life is what you make of it. I chose to use those bad experiences as reinforcement to help me succeed in my life. Those (what I considered to be the worst experiences of my life at the time) rough patches helped me set goals, stay focused, and become successful. Instead of looking back, and saying high school was a horrible experience I have chosen to remain positive, and focus on all the good that it brought me. Some of my best friends are still those friends I made in high school. I married my high school sweetheart, and as I look back now it is obvious that high school really did pave the way for where I am today.

I think why I consider myself a leader today is because thus far I have made the most of my experiences, and have learned from them. I have chosen to have a positive attitude, which has gotten me through so many things in life. It is true as the old saying goes, a smile really can go a long way. Although there are times when it would be easier to be negative, and simply decide to brush off an experience as a loss, what benefit would that gain me? What benefit would anyone gain from that?

I challenge you to make the most of any experience, and to remain focused on the positive. Learn from those experiences because they will continue to develop you into the leader you are called to be!

The Blame Game Alternative: Personal Responsibility

If you grew up with siblings (especially younger ones), you most likely learned how to pass the buck when you did something wrong. I see this a lot at my house with an almost 6 year old and a 3 year old. At times they are both pointing at each other, and neither wants to admit responsibility for what happened. 

We talk a lot about honesty, personal responsibility, and asking for forgiveness with our kids. But all of the talk means nothing if they don't grow up witnessing that behavior from us. It's one of the many reasons that being a parent is such a significant leadership role. Our kids are always watching, and they're paying particular attention to whether or not we practice what we preach. 

It's not always easy to admit when we're wrong. But it is a clear and undeniable sign of leadership maturity. I would venture to say that we grow as leaders each and every time we take personal responsibility for our mistakes and errors in judgment. 

The Blame Game never ends well. You've played it. I've played it. And it is always costly.

I recently read this blog post by John G. Miller about the 7 Costs of Blame. I couldn't agree with him more. John shares that blame destroys morale, reduces creativity, lowers productivity, increases fear, drives wedges between colleagues, breaks down teams, and solves no problems. And often blame accomplishes all of the above at once. (If you haven't read John's best-selling book QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, I highly recommend it. You can buy it here.) 

If we don't engage in The Blame Game, what should we do instead? Practice personal responsibility. When something goes wrong, take a step back and reflect on what YOU could have done differently. Ask questions and listen with an open mind. Have honest conversations. Admit when you're wrong. Share what you learned through the experience. 

The Blame Game Alternative is personal responsibility, which in my humble opinion is a prerequisite to leadership.

Stepping Into Leadership

Jocelyn Brown is a board-certified holistic health coach and natural health educator. She believes that everyone should look, feel, and live vibrantly, the way nature intended. She received her training in holistic nutrition, health coaching, and preventive health from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Drawing on this knowledge, she works with clients to help them make lifestyle changes that produce real and lasting results. 

Stepping into a leadership role has been a challenge for me. As an introvert, the last thing I relish is the spotlight; but I have come to accept myself as a leader, especially in the health and wellness field. 

Six years ago, all I wanted was to get on disability. I had migraines, insomnia, headaches, digestive issues, chronic hip pain, and chronic tendinitis in my wrist (it was so bad at times I couldn't even hold a coffee mug); I was always tired and had no energy. I had to sit down while I showered. Every day was a struggle, but I wouldn't give up. I took matters into my own hands and started studying natural and alternative health, there had to be something that could help me! 

I studied dietary theories, acupuncture, yoga, rested, went gluten-free, tried all sorts of supplements. I went to a naturopath, saw an Ayurvedic practitioner, went vegetarian, meditated, painted, gardened, got a dog, spent more time in nature, studied herbs, used essential oils.... and slowly but surely I got better. I remember the day I realized I had so much energy that I started jumping up and down in the shower. What a transformation!

It was only natural that the next step in my journey was to take what I've learned and share it with others. This led me to the holistic health coach program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and now I have the best job in the world! I coach other women on how to find thriving health and feel great! I know how bad it can feel to be sick, and I know how great it can feel to be happy and healthy. From sitting down to shower, to singing and dancing in the shower - this is the transformation I want to share with other women. 

I honestly feel that the worst thing I could do would be not to share my knowledge with others. Every time I want to avoid being a leader in the spotlight, whether it's teaching a class, speaking, or writing a blog post, I think instead of how my knowledge can help people.

My journey started with a single step. 

It doesn't matter how long the journey has taken, I know that I am exactly where I need to be. I am grateful for every step, including the experience of being sick. I know exactly how important my health is now, and I know how important it is to be a leader in health and wellness. 

You can connect with Jocelyn here on her website. 

Today's post is the fourth of the SOS Leadership Austin Leading Ladies' Blog Series. The purpose of this blog series is to share the stories and insights of women who are answering the call to leadership in their lives. Come back each Friday to read more!

Lessons from Leadership

Today, Monique Moreno continues to take us through her leadership journey in part 4 of 5 of her leadership blog series. She is covering her leadership journey as she attempts to survive in this 21st century technological jungle.

Over Christmas break, I held two seasonal jobs. One was at an upscale jewelry place; one was at a national clothing chain. I expected there to be a difference in the way the employees were treated, but never did I imagine the differences would be made so painfully obvious. At the jewelry store, we were treated to dinners, had healthy competition amongst us as we participated in employee contests, and even had a fully stocked fridge. At the national clothing chain, the managers didn’t remember my name, we were treated as if we were invisible, and we were never treated to nice meals. (Oh, no. I take it back. One time I had a slice of cold pizza, though I’m not too sure what its origins were.) You can guess which place I’ll be happily returning to work seasonally this coming Christmas break, and which one I will never again step foot in as long as I live.

Being college-aged has given me a great opportunity to partake in many leadership roles, but it has also allowed me the chance to step into things at the “bottom of the ladder” and really get a feel for what it’s like to be on the other side. It’s demonstrated to me again and again that the way you treat the people you lead really does make a difference.

Sometimes it’s good for us to take a step back and reevaluate how we’re leading, no matter where we are in life. Do we lead with an iron fist because we think that’s most effective? Or do we not speak up so as to avoid causing tension? I’ve certainly been guilty of both extremes.

What leaders put into their environment, they will see come back to them. This could be both positive and negative, so it’s obviously best to make the overall experience positive. I challenge you to think back to your high school part-time job, to your college internship, to the very first job you had after graduation. Did you absolutely love it? Did you absolutely hate it? Did you not care? Did you leave the position satisfied? If you’re still at this phase of life like I am, or about to enter this phase of life, take notes. Take notes of the things reflected in your boss’ leadership style that you love. Start doing them. Take notes of what they do that you don’t favor. Vow to never repeat their mistakes.

In order to be a good leader, we must consciously make decisions that benefit the team as a whole. Even if you don’t believe you are currently a leader, you are still a leader-in-training, and you should learn from your everyday experiences in order to better develop your style. And especially if you are a current leader, learn from those before you and those leading alongside you to strengthen your ways. Leadership is ever evolving and none of us are ever fully developed!

Check back next Thursday to read the final post about Monique's leadership journey!

Leaders Carry Each Other

Being a leader is a lifelong journey, and along the way, there are more ups and downs than we can count. All leaders feel like giving up sometimes.

We often think of leaders as being fearless, strong, confident, and unwavering...and we are a lot of the time. But we get frustrated, overwhelmed, stressed, lonely, and fearful too. We have days when we'd rather stay in bed than face the day.

One of the many reasons it's important to surround yourself with other leaders is because we need each other. We need to be reminded about how important our leadership is and that we matter. I'm convinced that a key to lifelong leadership is surrounding yourself with other leaders who believe in you AND who believe in themselves. And then you're on a leadership journey together...empowering each other, supporting each other, and sometimes carrying each other.

If you've been feeling like giving up, remember that the tide will turn soon. Hang in there, and if you need another leader to carry you, just ask. 

Leaders carry each other...we're all in this together.

Pillars of flawed Paradigms

Today's guest blog comes from Doug Rood of Decisive Solutions Coach, which is committed to helping the individual and groups of individuals take control of their destiny by creating proactive positive choices that produce the delicious fruit of their desires. Doug is a coach faculty member of SOS Leadership's SOS Coaching Network.

This morning while having my early morning daily devotional, I came across a passage that provoked thought with me that I would like to share with you. The passage is found in Psalm 29:3-6. In a nutshell, it says that the voice of the Lord is powerful and majestic like thunder and it breaks the cedars, the cedars of Lebanon. It goes on to say that He makes Lebanon “skip like a calf”.

As I paused to consider this idea of “breaks the cedars”, a question came to mind. Could the cedars represent “pillars of flawed paradigms”? I know for sure that I still have paradigms that are flawed and in need of being broken and replaced with new and effective paradigms. Am I alone in this journey?

The subsequent phrase, “He makes Lebanon skip like a calf…” created another question. Could these two verses refer to bondage and freedom? I don’t know because I am not an Old Testament Hebrew scholar by any stretch of the imagination. It just seems logical to me.

Would you agree with me that “pillars of flawed paradigms” are like bondage? If our pillars were broken, what could we imagine? Might we get a “skip” back in our steps?

As we begin a new week and a new month, might we introspectively reflect on the possibility of “pillars of flawed paradigms”? If so, what are some of those that come to mind? Does fear, doubt, uncertainty, hopelessness, negativity, etc. rise up? How about letting God’s powerful, majestic voice break those cedars so that you can “skip” this week?

Endless possibilities do exist. Let God amaze YOU!

The Austin Way- How I Became an Activist.

Dara Carrillo, is a communications and efficiency strategist, artist, activist and founder of DC Communications Consulting.She is greatly motivated by serving others and thrives in creating ideas and bringing them to fruition. Dara helps small to medium sized businesses and nonprofit organizations streamline processes, create strong internal infrastructures, develop individuals, build team effectiveness, maximize organizational efficiency, and ultimately increase profitability through effective communication strategies. 

An activist? Me? If someone would have told me years ago that I would be an activist when I grew up, I probably would not have believed them. Being an activist did not seem like something I would ever be motivated to become. As an introverted extrovert, the idea of whooping and hollering, and making a bunch of racket in public about a specific cause did not appeal to me whatsoever; but in the early part of 2011, all that changed. Here’s my story about how I answered my call to leadership as an activist in Austin, Texas.

One evening I found myself perusing Facebook and came across an event titled, “Slutwalk Austin Volunteer Call”. At first, I was a bit shocked by the title, but even still, curious enough to click on it anyway to find out more about it.  It was then that I discovered that March was intended for citizens to stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence, help raise awareness and put an end to the victim blaming culture we live in.  This global grassroots movement began when a cop in Toronto publicly announced that a girl would not have gotten raped if she was not wearing revealing clothes. I was so appalled that I signed up immediately to attend the meeting and help put an end to that kind of backwards thinking.

“You may think your actions are meaningless and that they won't help, but that is no excuse, you must still act.”

At this point in my life, I had just completed my Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communications from St. Edward’s University, and was enthusiastic to put my new knowledge and skills to practice. I found myself doing hours of research and wrote down a ton of ideas in preparation for the volunteer meeting.

“The most important political office is that of a private citizen.”

The community meeting was held at a local restaurant in Austin. I was welcomed by about a dozen women and men who were also there to volunteer. I could feel the energy, motivation and excitement at the table.  There was no clear agenda other than to recruit volunteers for the march. Recognizing the need for organization, I jumped right in.  I suggested that everyone briefly share their strengths, interests, and experiences and then we could work toward matching interests with the necessary tasks.  The organizers of the meeting thought it was a great idea, so we all went around the table and shared.

A couple of days later, the lead organizer of the meeting contacted me and asked if I would be interested in meeting with them to discuss serving as the Volunteer Coordinator for March, and I willingly agreed.

Over the course of the next three months, I worked at least 40 hours a week (on top of my regular 40 hour work week) preparing for this event. I lent a hand in making sure every “t” was crossed and every “i” was dotted and also helped recruit, orient and manage volunteers for this march. The event was a huge success with 4 inspirational speakers, 60+ volunteers and close to 1,500 attendees who marched with us, starting and ending at the capitol through downtown Austin. After this event, I continued advocating for sexual assault survivors as a Communications Strategist and Volunteer Coordinator for Sexual-Violence Free Austin (SVFree).

There are many different approaches to activism. The angry, reactive approach did not appeal to me at all. In fact, that method made me quite uncomfortable. This entire process taught me that I naturally gravitated toward a proactive style of activism focusing on education and prevention.

Today, without hesitation, I call myself an activist and a leader. My experiences showed me how very possible it was to start with a vision of what could be, and take action. Reflecting on this experience, I cannot believe how energetic and willing I was to work that hard and that many hours, for free.  Helping others have a voice and feel supported was all the motivation I needed to sustain me.

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

 Gaining this awareness that my inspiration came from serving others, I know that my future will include activism and in fact, we need activism in our society to create positive change. It was through my service to others, standing in solidarity with survivors and working side by side with others who had common goals, that I was able to answer my call to leadership. My passion for civic engagement propels me to continue to practice leadership and is a priority in my life’s work.

Connect with Dara on her blog or send her an e-mail.

Today's post is the third of the SOS Leadership Austin Leading Ladies' Blog Series. The purpose of this blog series is to share the stories and insights of women who are answering the call to leadership in their lives. Come back each Friday to read more!

Learning to Sieze the Moment

Today, Monique Moreno continues to take us through her leadership journey in part 3 of 5 of her leadership blog series. She is covering her leadership journey as she attempts to survive in this 21st century technological jungle.

Carpe Diem.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” –Mark Twain

I discovered the above quote one day last year while on the hunt for good quotes I could incorporate into my crafts (I know what you’re thinking, but no, I’m not eighty years old. I’m twenty, and I just really like to do crafts.) It was one of those profound things that you read and always remember. 

Everyone at one point or another has used an excuse to get out of doing something. I know I have. I know I still catch myself trying to pull a fast one on myself from time to time. It’s rough out there. No one expects us to be perfect and yet we usually end up being our own worst critics.

The truth is, we can never better ourselves if we don’t take the leap. We can’t ever grow if we don’t ever let ourselves venture into new territory. If you stay stagnant your entire life, your roots will get cemented to the ground and you’ll end up a pesky weed everyone tries to get rid of because they’ve stuck around for too long in one spot.

Okay, maybe not. But, still. It’s healthy to take chances I mean, If Pocahontas hadn’t followed her heart when it came to John Smith, sure, Kocoum might have survived, but would she have really been in love with Kocoum? I don’t think so.

Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes, and no role is too small. You don’t even have to lead others, just learn to lead yourself and make decisions that make you a better you! In college, I’ve learned to apply to everything. The worse that can happen is that it doesn’t quite work out. I recently applied for a leadership position that had to do with studying abroad that I didn’t think I had a chance of landing. I didn’t get it. (See? These things happen to everyone.) I didn’t think I was qualified and I knew there were people applying who were way more qualified than I was, and that person did, in fact, get picked. However, I decided to apply on a whim because it was something I wanted.

Although I was disappointed I didn’t get it, I was proud of myself that I applied. I am also a firm believer that everything happens for a reason which resonated true in this case as shortly after that I was approached to take on another duty that wouldn’t have been possible had I been offered the first position. In fact, it was my initiative on the first role that got me noticed for the second role, which just goes to show that you never know who’s watching.

So seize the day. Apply for that dream role you’re scared to apply to. Stop overanalyzing and just do it!  Stop journeying down the safe path and take a chance on the risky path every once in a while. You’ll be surprised where it may lead you; I know I sure have been.

Check back next Thursday to read more about Monique's leadership journey!

SOS Gr8 Women Leaders on What Makes a Gr8 Leader

We recently launched our third group of the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program with eight incredible women who are committed to developing their leadership skills and challenging themselves to learn, grow, network, and achieve at a higher level. This group of Gr8 Women Leaders are already amazing leaders, but they recognize that they can grow and become even better. They have a strong desire to learn, and they are willing to invest their valuable time, energy, and money to gain an edge and become the best version of themselves.

During our kick-off session, we had a thought-provoking discussion about what makes a leader great. Here's a list of qualities the SOS Gr8 Women came up with...

A Gr8 Leader...

• Leads by example
• Has compassion for each person she encounters
• Takes existing style and helps the person to be successful as they are
• Empowers people to be who they are
• Shows her passion
• Honors the person she is working with
• Is not focused on power
• Is trustworthy 
• Acts with integrity in every situation
• Is transparent 
• Has vision and knows how to share it
• Cares about each person as an individual
• Is confident
• Knows how to get out of the way
• Takes care of herself
• Has good habits and routines that work for her
• Is open to being vulnerable
• Shows appreciation
• Figures out how to find the sweet spot between leading and managing
• Is not micromanager
• Has a strong relationship with those she leads - a relationship of trust and transparency
• Makes decisions
• Recognizes the importance of being consistent
• Is a clear communicator of expectations
• Asks good questions
• Has foresight about how she wants to grow
• Is assertive
• Seeks balance
• Is focused on learning

This is a comprehensive list from a group of truly great leaders. What else would you add to this list? Share your ideas in the comments below. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. 

One of the foundational beliefs I have about leadership is that there is no cookie cutter approach. One size doesn't fit all. Each and every one of us has our own unique leadership style; perhaps your style includes many of the qualities listed above, but maybe it doesn't. The important thing is to focus on understanding who you are, what leadership means to you, and how YOU want to lead. That's what the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program is all about. Our goal is to grow with you...we exist to empower and equip leaders (THAT'S YOU) to make a difference!

Check out this short video to learn more about the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program!

Leadership Development Mad Lib

With more than 15 years experience in communications and human relations, Kelli Huff currently serves as the director of human resources at SicolaMartin. Kelli has expertise in all areas of leadership development, performance and career management, with a particular passion for culture branding. She has a degree in communication from Texas A&M University-Commerce, and began her career as a news producer for NBC, CBS and FOX affiliates. Married to a creative director, her two children are predisposed to be future advertising execs.

I’m a people person, and as a human resource leader, I get to spend the majority of my time with people. I love it because I've observed that my leadership abilities evolve through relationships with others. My style of management is formed from qualities of respect, openness, observation, good humor, and knowing that I’m not always right. This is a style I bring into my organization. 

Organizational development is much like leadership development. You focus on key strengths and attributes, paying attention to values and point of views, and identifying areas of growth then implementing plans for positive change.

It’s not terribly complicated, but it can be complex. I recently consulted on a leadership retreat for a communications agency. There was one simple fill-in-the-blank statement that was posed to each executive:

The future success of our company depends on ________.

But because we’re dealing with people who each have their own world view, goals and objectives, the answers were anything but simple. There was much conversation and respectful debate about what success even means, whiteboards and vats of coffee, but through open dialogue and a genuine desire for a united mission, the organization is on a path to success, with committed leaders.

The same exercise can be applied to personal leadership development, and at times, can be even more compounded since you are pulling from within; and although you may learn from and lean on others, you alone can identify who you are as a leader. So please don’t be your worst critic, and ask yourself:

Success means ________ to me. My future success depends on ________.

And let the responses flow. Think of it as the leadership version of Mad Libs™. Don’t limit yourself, and see where your mind takes you. Start to identify themes and begin to put together a plan of action. Take it step by step and pretty soon you’ll be running.

Connect with Kelli on her blog, Linkedin, and Twitter.

Today's post is the second of the SOS Leadership Austin Leading Ladies' Blog Series. The purpose of this blog series is to share the stories and insights of women who are answering the call to leadership in their lives. Come back each Friday to read more!

Okay, I’m in College, Now What?

Today, Monique Moreno continues to take us through her leadership journey in part 2 of 5 of her leadership blog series. She is covering her leadership journey as she attempts to survive in this 21st century technological jungle.

When I entered college in fall 2011, I thought leadership positions would come naturally to me. I had been involved in many things throughout my high school career, and I truly believed it would be just as easy to be heavily involved at the university level. So, naturally, I went to the university’s involvement fair and boldly signed up for nine organizations.

Well. That wasn’t the first Freshman Blunder I made, and it certainly wasn’t the last.

The emails piled up and I avoided mostly all of them. Informational meetings. Pot luck dinners. Fundraising polls. Meeting changes. Room changes. Time changes. Date changes. It was safe to say I was overwhelmed and I didn’t know exactly how to go about sorting through the hundreds of emails I had let accumulate in my mailbox, marked with the sickly bold font that meant I hadn’t touched it yet.

It was easy to commit to so much in high school, but not so much in college. The main difference I found in college commitments and high school commitments was that oftentimes, with high school commitments, meetings were limited and time was precious. In college, there were meetings every week, mixers on the weekend, and it seemed like my rear would be permanently glued to a chair manning the bake sale booth.

I then told myself I couldn’t just avoid these things forever, and made a list of every organization I had attempted to join. I asked myself why I was trying to get involved in each organization, and I prioritized which seemed to be the most important to me. I got my list down to about three organizations I could really see myself committing to and I finally attended meetings about halfway through September.

After I had cut down my list of involvements, I found that I didn’t quite like the vibe of two, and found that I could really leave a mark on and dedicate some time to the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Not only was PRSSA a great organization to help me sort out what I wanted to specifically do with my communication degree, it also provided some really great opportunities.

What I learned through this process is that when it comes to being involved, it’s okay for it to take some time. Sometimes it’s easier for us to take that step if we think about things carefully. Like the other ‘ship, friendship, leadership is all about quality, not quantity. Just like it’s better to have a handful of really good friends that you can rely on than a big indecisive bunch, it’s important that we don’t spread ourselves too thin to the point where the quality of our actions and work suffer. 

Although I haven’t been as involved as possible in every organization on campus, my commitment to PRSSA remains strong. This academic year I held an officer position, and next year I’m running for president of the organization. My goal is to strengthen the group of wonderful individuals we have with us and guide them to success as we grow our number of members. I’m determined and dedicated to keep the great legacy of the organization going strong, and if that’s the one mark I leave with the school, then I will happily write myself off as a college success. 

Check back next Thursday to read more about Monique's leadership journey!

Weekly Motivational Minute: Develop a Burning Desire

Every week, an SOS Leadership partner or friend shares a motivational minute about a different leadership topic. This week, Billy Moyer encourages us to, "Develop a Burning Desire."

We Belong to Each Other

In the days following the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, I wrote this blog about leading with hope. Today  we once again search for hope as we grieve after another senseless act of violence. Mother Teresa's words ring true today, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

As leaders on this day and every day, let us remember that we belong to each other. Let us take a moment to show love and gratitude to the people in our lives who matter most: our family members, friends, colleagues, and those who strive to lead with hope.

Today I hope that we remember all of the leaders and heroes who emerged yesterday in Boston, as well as all of the leaders who choose to lead on a daily basis. Leadership is an act of courage, and we must not back down. Will we continue to lead with hope or throw in the towel? Let's choose to lead and to share our hope with the world.

The world needs hope. 

The world needs strong leaders. 

The world needs you.

"A Leader is a Dealer in Hope."

~ Napoleon Bonaparte 

All of us at SOS Leadership are lifting up prayers for those who lost their lives, those who were injured, and all who feel the grief of yesterday's events in Boston.  

Why Honesty Is The Best Leadership Policy

Nicole Seligman is a writer and advocate born and raised in Austin, TX. She believes in Sisterhood and good hair days. Nicole writes about personal style and growing up on her blog writes like a girl. You can also find her on Twitter and Instagram.

Traditionally, directors of companies and organizations led with the belief that the least amount of transparency would gain the greatest amount of respect. While this style of hierarchy is intentionally exclusive, it can create a barrier to success for the entire team. Choosing honesty over secrecy shows that you respect the people you lead enough to keep them in the loop. Here are a few ways being honest can benefit your leadership skills.

As an authority figure: A leadership role with levels of people below you is a major responsibility. Not only are you responsible for making decisions and saving face after a public mishap, but you have a responsibility to be true to your staff. If the company receives recognition for its hard work, be vocal about your gratitude. When your organization faces a difficult time or unexpected change, being forthcoming about your fears and insecurities will boost overall morale because your staff will feel solidarity instead of separation during this trying time.

As a mentor: The purpose of a mentorship is to help someone learn from not only your victories, but also your mistakes. The teachers we have the closest connection to, both in and out of the classroom, are those who make a point to be on our level. When describing your journey up until this point in your career, don’t leave out the important moments where you declined an opportunity, ate off the dollar menu, or felt paralyzed by the unexpected. We’ve felt lost at some point, so validate your mentee’s experience instead of sweeping your own under the rug.

As a natural leader: In your own life, you’re a role model to those around you. In your daily interactions, friends, coworkers, and people on the Internet are all looking to you to know what is next. Whether you’re supporting a cause or starting a new job, people are counting on your insight more than your success. Sometimes we say yes to an opportunity we shouldn’t have or we make a tough life transition. Communicating openly about your experiences helps you grow and encourages others to shake things up a little, even if they are scared to take the next step.

As a blogger, my honesty has not only gained a following, but has given me the support I often need to feel confident in my leadership abilities. For every leader who is struggling with making a connection with their group or their readers, try a little honesty.

Today's post is the first of the SOS Leadership Austin Leading Ladies' Blog Series. The purpose of this blog series is to share the stories and insights of women who are answering the call to leadership in their lives. Come back each Friday to read more!