Syanne Rios’ Post

Reflecting on the past four months as a Team Lead, the journey has been nothing short of transformative. The transition was not without its challenges and uncertainty, an unclear future. This transition also highlighted the sheer impact of being in the right position for me right now. January marked the beginning of this role, achieving an 80% quota fulfillment. By the second month, it soared to 160%. The third month? I was all time high - a staggering 320%. Skyrocketing. Looking at the numbers - should keep this pattern doubling the outcome every month. But let's be real. Aiming for 640%? That's a bit overkill 😅 Yet, this journey underscores a crucial point. Lead by example. It's not just about numbers. It's about setting a pace, a standard, and inspiring your team to reach heights they've never imagined would be possible. This experience has taught me the power of alignment—finding your groove can truly amplify your impact.

🚴♂️ What if Welcoming a New Team Member Is Like Prepping for a Big Ride? 🚴♀️ Starting a new job is a lot like gearing up for a challenging ride—it’s all about preparation, support, and setting the right pace. Here’s how I help new team members get ready for the road ahead: 🚴♂️ Setting the Pace: I make sure the pace is right from the start—neither too fast nor too slow—so they can build confidence without feeling overwhelmed. 🚴♀️ Equipping Them for Success: Just like you wouldn’t start a ride without checking your gear, I ensure new hires have all the tools and resources they need to succeed. 🚴♂️ Navigating Together: I don’t just hand them a map and send them off; I ride alongside them, offering guidance and support as they navigate their new role. 🚴♀️ Celebrating Small Wins: Every milestone, no matter how small, deserves recognition—just like hitting that first checkpoint on a long ride. 🚴♀️ Encouraging Pit Stops: I remind them that it’s okay to take a break, ask questions, and recalibrate—because no one finishes strong without a few well-timed pit stops along the way. 💬 How do you make sure your new hires don’t just survive but thrive from day one? Share your strategies in the comments! #CyclingLeadership #RideAndLead #KintsugiLeadershipLab #TeamBuilding #OnboardingSuccess #CyclistCommunity #LeadershipTips 

You weren't hired because someone thought you had all the answers. So why do you feel ashamed admitting that you don't know something. In my career I've seen folks pretend to know something they didn't because of ⤵ 🚫 Ego 🚫 Perfectionism 🚫 Power Dynamics 🚫 Fear of Judgement 🚫 Cultural Expectations None of which are a good excuse. Early in my leadership career I really struggled with imposter syndrome. And because of all of those reasons and more I assumed I had to show up every single day having all of the answers. This contributed to stress, failures, wasted time, slowed impact etc. All because I thought I was expected to know it all. Over the years I have come to embrace that I don't know everything and I don't have all the answers. I've learned to rely on my experiences which have taught me a bunch and helped strategically think things through and come up with an appropriate answer or solution but I don't just know everything. Embracing this realization has helped me ⤵ ▶ Get to solutions and resolutions faster ▶ Be a better and more collaborative leader ▶ Create a safe work culture with healthy expectations So in case you needed this reminder, it's perfectly ok to say, "Great question, I don't know, but let me go find out." So much personal and professional growth has come from acknowledging what I don't know and leaning into learning something new. So cheers to admitting you don't know something this week.

🌟 Celebrating Milestones: A Journey of Growth and Gratitude 🌟 Today marks another year of the day I came up with idea of ‘The Vertical’ and what a journey it has been! Reflecting on the past year, I’m filled with a sense of gratitude and accomplishment. Each project, challenge, and success has been a step on a path of immense learning and growth. (Why this celebration is more than just a date on the calendar) Every year, this date is a milestone that symbolizes more than just tenure. It represents the challenges we’ve faced, the obstacles we’ve overcome, and the knowledge we’ve gained as a team. It’s a testament to the resilience, dedication, and hard work that each day requires. But here’s what truly makes these milestones worth celebrating: • The People: From mentors who’ve guided me, to colleagues who’ve become friends, it’s the people I’ve met along this journey who’ve made every challenge worthwhile and every success sweeter. • The Growth: Both personal and professional growth that came from pushing boundaries, embracing new ideas, and stepping out of my comfort zone. • The Impact: Knowing that the work we do makes a difference, contributes to our team’s goals, and aligns with my personal values and career aspirations. (And here’s to many more) As I celebrate this day, I am reminded that the journey is far from over. There are more challenges to face, more to learn, and even more opportunities to make an impact. The Vertical

“I’m just going to churn it out and get it done myself”, I thought again and again. After trying my hardest to be everything to everybody, I almost changed careers. But then, I realized – sometimes it’s hard to see things when you’re too close. Take a step back and take a look at the basics. Doing so gave me (and my volunteer and staff teams) the hope we needed to power forward. And, the result: improved engagement, better outcomes, increased effectiveness, and better attitudes. One of the most valuable things I learned was not accepting “we’ve always done it this way and it’s working” as an acceptable response. When joining a well-healed organization, it’s easy to assume that they have it all figured out. You know – committee charges, goals and objectives, policies and procedures and role descriptions. Once I learned to embrace my role as a change-maker, to ask questions, and to encourage discovery and discussion – duplicate efforts and siloed departments and committees became streamlined. Ultimately, our team grew stronger and shared in the increased growth and improved interest. Now, I love showing my clients how they, too, can get renewed energy and outcomes by taking a look at the basics for a change.

For the past 20 years, I’ve noticed a pattern in many workplaces — a constant push for competition, as if we're meant to outdo one another to prove our worth. But the truth is, I’m not here to compete with anyone or to be better than anyone. My journey has always been about something more meaningful: learning, growing, and supporting others. Every one of us has different skills, experiences, and talents. Some people are gifted in certain areas, while others are still exploring and learning new things. And that’s what makes us human — the ability to grow, expand, and try new things we've never done before. I believe that true fulfillment comes not from competing but from lifting one another up. We all thrive when we create an environment where people feel supported and valued. It’s about recognizing that we’re all on different paths, and there's space for everyone to shine in their own way. Let’s move away from the mindset of competition and embrace one where we support each other’s growth. When we uplift others, we create a culture where we all succeed. After all, we’re not meant to outdo each other — we’re meant to grow together as human beings.

Are you agree In the professional world, true success is not defined by promotions or titles but by the respect and recognition earned from peers and colleagues. This respect comes from consistently delivering quality work, upholding ethical standards, and supporting your team. Such accomplishments foster trust and admiration, leading to a fulfilling and meaningful career where your contributions are genuinely valued.

Sitting on the patio this morning and reflecting, I was realizing that we live in a world that often fixates on outcomes, I've been learning to treasure the journey even more than the destination. 🌱 This shift in perspective has transformed how I view success. It's not just about celebrating when we reach our goals but also about appreciating the growth, lessons, and experiences we gather along the way. Being grateful for the process means recognizing every effort, every setback, and every small victory as part of a larger narrative of progress. Reflecting on my recent projects, I realize that the moments of struggle, collaboration, and resilience have brought just as much value—if not more—than the final outcomes. These processes have shaped me, taught me invaluable lessons, and prepared me for future challenges in ways I could never have anticipated. So, let's take a moment to celebrate the unseen work, the late nights, the brainstorming sessions, and the team efforts that don't always make it into the spotlight but are crucial to our growth and achievements. Embracing the journey not only makes us more resilient but also more connected to our work and to each other. After all, it's in the process that we find our true strengths and potential. 🚀 #Gratitude #ProcessOverProduct #GrowthMindset

🎉 10 Years and Counting! "Congratulations, Ken," Lise said during a department meeting. "You’ve hit the 10-year mark!" “What!? No way, that can’t be right,” I blurted out, surprised that a decade had passed. But as I reflected, I realized why it feels like time has flown by: I've been fortunate enough to work in an environment that keeps me engaged and motivated. Especially three key elements have kept me excited and driven over the past decade: 💼 Responsibility From the very start, I’ve been entrusted with real responsibility - whether it’s been leading projects, scaling teams, or developing solutions that have a tangible impact on the business. Having ownership over my work has given me a strong sense of purpose and pride in what I do, and I’ve loved every opportunity to contribute to our collective goals. 🤝 Collaboration Working alongside so many brilliant, creative, and dedicated individuals has been one of the greatest joys of my career. Whether we’re brainstorming new ideas, solving complex problems, or just offering support to one another, collaboration has been at the heart of everything we’ve achieved. 🌱Possibilities One of the most exciting aspects of my role has been the endless possibilities for growth and innovation. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege to work on projects that make people’s workdays better by reducing manual and repetitive tasks. Being part of a team that continuously looks for ways to improve, streamline, and innovate has kept me inspired and driven to keep learning and evolving. I’m incredibly grateful for the journey so far, and I’m excited for what the future holds. Here’s to more years of responsibility, collaboration, and possibilities! #WorkAnniversary #Grateful #Responsibility #Collaboration #Innovation #Growth

I delivered my year-end reviews with my team last week, and I've always found it a little challenging to have a discussion on last year's results when we are almost three months into the new year. One thing I've started including in my reviews is the phrase, "I would love to see *employee* continue to work on *opportunity* to further help with their *development goal* "   This struck me in the middle of a conversation last week- as I was delivering this review, I realized the employee had already been addressing that opportunity and was already excelling in that area this year! It is one thing to write a review, but it's another to put it into action. By providing consistent feedback, empowerment, and engagement to my team on their areas of opportunity, they will accomplish what we set out for them- but there has to be equal buy in from both parties, and constant communication in order to really feel the progress on what's important to them AND us.   My goal with every development conversation is to leave the conversation with an action plan to build on. By continuing to hold ourselves accountable, we make all the difference in our team's career goals, and those Year End Reviews become celebrations of accomplishments!