Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s Post

"You don't stay motivated. You stay dedicated." I met Missy Franklin this weekend as she generously shared her time at the Nashville Junior Chamber Leadership Conference. Missy talked about winning gold medals, dealing with disappointment, mental health, and leadership, but talking about the importance of being on a team stood out. You don't stay motivated. Motivation will ebb and flow, but you do stay dedicated. You might not have the energy to show up for yourself. But you have the energy to show up for those you love. And you can trust them to show up for you. Whether it is a 6 am pool workout, an entrepreneurial venture, or just another day, having a community around you to show up for you when you are not on top of your game can make the difference in sustainably creating success. This is what commitment looks like. It's not doing it when you feel like it. But creating a community to help you do it when you don't feel like it. Because you are committed to doing it. There are times when motivation will leave you, but dedication is a choice.

Calling all leaders! Transform how to handle tough conversations in your workplace with our ‘Business & Breakfast’ online seminar. Dr. Shawn Moore, will provide introductory strategies that foster a stronger communication culture, addressing conflicts constructively and enhancing team dynamics. Reserve your spot today and start the journey towards more meaningful conversations at work. #LeadershipTraining #DifficultConversations #BusinessandBreakfast

I recently turned down a “promotion” for this very same reason. More responsibility and more accountability deserves more compensation. Even after trying to negotiate, administrative leadership held their ground and I declined their offer. To make matters worse, their second choice was one of my colleagues who knows they were the second choice. What kind of dark cloud might be hanging over their head as they start their new position? What a morale killer. What could have been a celebration of success showing others in the organization that growth within it is not only possible, but probable fell flat. The person who took the position was offered an increase (they are less experienced and on a different pay structure). The organization didn’t save any money, they just spent it on the less qualified candidate. If you want good people and highly qualified candidates to move up in your organization—making it stronger—it is just like any other process or equipment upgrade. It takes investment. Experience, skills, and abilities matter—especially if you don’t have in-house development programs and expect employees to pay for and complete it on their own. If you are promoting from within, then you need to trust and respect your workforce enough to compensate their willingness to take on more responsibilities—pay them!

Are you a new land trust executive director? My team at the Land Trust Alliance runs a peer group for EDs in the eastern U.S. who have been in their roles for approx. 3 years or less. Participants will get formal training and networking opportunities to help them build relationships with their peers and problem-solve around some of their biggest challenges. One recent participant shared: "I have appreciated the LTA New EDs Peer group mostly for the validation but also for concrete information. My peers remind me that I’m not terrible at my job and I might even be good at it! They remind me that the job is difficult, my struggles are also everyone else’s struggles, and if I’m unsure how to tackle a challenge but am seeking knowledge, then I’m on the right track. Also immensely helpful is the swapping of advice, information, resources, templates, etc. This group is rich in knowledge and generosity."  Sound like something you'd like to be part of? Reach out if you have questions, or learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/eWgk6Taa

Join my free masterclass "Build Community for DEI" In this session, you'll learn more about how to build a community for diversity, equity and inclusion with my no-hassle and no-time-wasted signature method for building inclusive communities. 🔍 Why Attend? ✅ Strategic Impact: Discover how building inclusive communities strategically impacts organizational success, propelling you and your organization forward. ✅ Problem Solving: Tackle challenges hindering diversity and inclusion head-on, positioning yourself as a problem-solving leader. ✅ Immediate Action: Gain a blueprint for immediate implementation, showcasing your ability to drive tangible results. 🗓️ Save the Date: Wednesday 21st of February, from 4.00pm to 5.00pm Register here: https://lnkd.in/eaCZEHkz Don't miss this opportunity to get a tried and tested blueprint for building communities that bring positive change in your organization.

Great book I keep on my desk that I refer to from time to time. One section describes the best way to decide where to work. Rumsfeld states that instead of focusing solely on the company you want to work for, consider the people you work with and for. Your colleagues and leaders play a crucial role in your growth and success. Choose a team that inspires, challenges, and supports you to thrive professionally and personally. Grateful I followed this advice and found such a place. #ChooseYourTeamWisely #CareerGrowth

You hired LaTresse Snead to tell you the truth, so here it is: The environmental sector has traditionally been white-led and white-centered. That’s why organizations who try to diversify their staff on their own usually end up falling into groupthink. Once your leaders accept and acknowledge this, we can get to work creating the organization you envision becoming. #executivecoaching #nonprofitleadership #nonprofitcoaching

✈️ Feeling inspired following Camille John’s “Triple A” discussion - Allyship, Advocacy and Action! 👏 Thanks to Asher Prower and the REACH leadership team and Exec sponsor Mark Johnston for organising such a thought provoking conversation. 🙌 So many great insights and practical suggestions to put Allyship into practice: 🏅it’s about having an ‘everyone wins’ mindset 🎬we need to become ‘up standers’, rather than bystanders 🙌Allyship is for everyone, we all need allies and can be one! ♾️we’re living in a world of constant moment, so it’s important to normalise curiosity and make it ok to learn from mistakes. It’s a ‘call in’ opportunity. 🎧Allyship is about listening first, not making assumptions about what you think people need, it’s about standing beside people and using your ‘wealth’ (knowledge/relationships) Kudos to Camille for also getting in my fav 🕷️spidey quote - “with great power, comes great responsibility” - referencing your role as a leader. Camille gave us a lot to reflect on and acorns of ideas on how to amplify Allyship across our London Gatwick culture and beyond. Looking forward to putting this into practice with Naomi Turner, our Leaders and Business Resource Groups 👏🙌🎬 #AirportLife #Allyship #LeadWithEmpathy

Dive into the world of unknown knowns! Join Postdoctoral Associate, Kalan Norris Ph.D. for a session that will explore the differences between diversity management and inclusion, shedding light on what we know (and do not know). Moreover, you'll gain valuable best practices and recommendations that will empower you and your team to address DEI-related issues with heightened awareness and understanding. Kalan's research and teaching specialize in the areas of organizational behavior, leadership, diversity and inclusion, power and influence, and research methods. Kalan’s primary research focus centers on diversity and inclusion, with a particular emphasis on examining within-race differences to better understand the nuanced experiences of racially and ethnically diverse employees. To register and learn more, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gMHCHkGZ Read Kalan's latest work published on the Harvard Business Review here: https://lnkd.in/dyeAA-Vi

Earlier this week, I had the joy of attending the Community Leaders Breakfast led by the amazing team at the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes (special shout out to Christopher Bechle and Megan Antonitto) and hosted at the gorgeous Oak Hill Country Club. I was seated at Table 2 and had the privilege of learning from Philip Pecora alongside Rochelle Moore and Craig Gingerich, CFP®, C(k)P®, AIF®, CHSA®. Here are my takeaways: Key takeaways on leadership: - Build authentic relationships - Communicate well - Listen - Lead and make decisions with conviction - Use persuasion to get buy-in on decisions internally - Don't be afraid of important distractions and interruptions, they can be good for building trust and advancing the mission - Empower the team to own their solutions - Don't get stuck in the details if you are big, use broad brush solutions, if you are small and nimble, use that to your advantage by going deep into the details Key pieces of advice on career building: - Be bold - Don't be afraid of taking calculated risks - Volunteer  - Be in a dedicated relationship with your local community Grateful to be a part of a community that invests in upcoming leaders!