Prior to joining Stotler Hayes Group, LLC, (“SHG”) I worked at various organizations – in health care, law, and accounting – a few undergoing deep, cultural transformations. My experiences working through the changes taught me a lot about myself and pushed me to continue being a courageous leader in the face of challenging situations. In essence what was intended to be an organizational transformation sparked the beginning of my quest to live wholeheartedly, embrace vulnerability and tackle hard things, for the right reasons.
Then in April 2015, I had the fortune of joining SHG as the General Counsel and HR Director. What I saw in the organization, the leaders, and the team was inspiring and uniquely special. My passion for culture and organizational development paired with the talent, commitment to top-notch service, and forward-thinking approach to leading a law firm was a superb match.
After hearing Dr. Brené Brown’s Ted Talk on Vulnerability a few years ago, I was hooked and on fire to learn more. I absorbed each of her books and listened to all of her other Ted Talks…….multiple times. Dr. Brown’s work is derived from thousands of interviews, years of data compilation and analysis, and based on wholly qualitative research. Her teachings apply to every type of work, all types of organizations – from law firms to long term care companies; her work has the potential to reach all corners of lives, professional and personal lives – from the boardroom to the classroom and the dining room table.
My quest for infusing Dr. Brown’s teachings into the work I love at SHG kept nudging me at my core. Fortunately, the managing partners at SHG are innovative and passionate about the individuals on their team. With their support and understanding of my desire to marry these two worlds, I applied for, and was accepted into, the Dare to Lead™ Facilitator Certification program. Last month I traveled to San Antonio, Texas for the in-person training segment of my year long journey toward achieving the Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator Certification. The training was taught by Dr. Brown herself and included approximately 100 like-minded colleagues from all corners of the globe.
There is so much to tell you about the need to bring Dare to Lead into your workplaces, homes, and communities. Dare to Lead is eye opening and impactful from a personal and professional level. What may genuinely surprise you is that by employing these principles, you will no doubt see positive gains to your bottom line. [1] Vulnerability is good for business and Dare to Lead is an investment in your leadership team. [2] It provides tools for bringing courage back to your company, creating a meaningful culture, building brave leaders, and learning how to cultivate trust. In an industry where turn-over is at an all-time high, expenses are securitized for corners to cut, and profits are evaluated as a basis for selling business sectors, Daring to Lead is critically important. Research has proven that a positive change to organizational culture can improve employee productivity, increase performance and accountability, reduce absenteeism and turnover, and dramatically improving morale, which come together to skyrocket your net profitability.
I am truly excited to be able, as a Certified Facilitator, to bring this work to you, your teams, and your organizations. I’ll be kicking off the SHG webinar series in 2020 with a Dare to Lead presentation, but, in the meantime, if you are interested in hosting a team workshop, lunch-n-learn, or individual coaching, please reach out to me at [email protected] . Remember, “The willingness to show up changes us. It makes us a little braver each time.”
[1] An HBR study showed that the top 10 companies in the Global Empathy Index increased in value more than twice as much as the bottom 10 and generated 50% more earnings.
[2]Research suggests that inauthentic people may be as much as 20 percent less productive than employees who feel comfortable presenting their authentic selves to the world.
