Kit Prendergast, PCC
Kit brings you a wealth of expertise and experience as well as a wonderful spirit, energy, and a gift for inspiring you to create the life you truly want for yourself.Kit's Tips & Books
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Category Archives: Inspirational Leadership
Are You a “Go-To” Person?
What a great question! And if the answer is yes (and I hope it is) then the logical follow-up question is “What do people go to you for? You may never have thought about it. The answer may only be one word. For example, people tell me that they come to me for “energy” or “inspiration”. Maybe people come to you for your “wisdom” or for your “guidance” in challenging situations. Or maybe you are in the inside loop and are known for some unique “knowledge” or “expertise/experience”. It’s different for everyone and you may not even know for certain.
Your “Go-To” Reputation is Part of Your Brand
It’s a important question . . . what do others come to you for? I always ask this question when working with people around building their career performance and long-term success. And if they like the answer (which is very important) then we weave it into their personal and career brand so they own it – take control of it. It means that we are being seen as a resource – a valuable resource. We have something to offer relatively quickly and without a great deal of hassle. We are approachable, easy to get in contact with and can be trusted to listen and provide some help. Now that is a great reputation to have.
Remember! It doesn’t mean you have all the answers or that you’re going to take on all or even part of the work. In fact, it’s very important that you don’t see yourself in that role but rather that you have the contacts and the willingness to help connect others with resources. It means that you are a connector – a person in the know. That is an excellent reputation to have!
Learning from Sheila Leslie, Nevada State Senator
Just yesterday, I had the chance to listen to a wonderful member of the Nevada State Legislature, Sheila Leslie, State Senator, speak about her role in the legislature. In response to a question from the audience, Leslie shared how she mentors and advises newly elected legislators. And she knows what she’s talking about . . . Leslie has served Northern Nevada since 1998 first as a State Assemblywoman and now as a State Senator. She is very well-respected and best known for her expertise and experience in the health and human services.
So it was no surprise that Leslie’s advice to young legislators is to become a “go-to” person in an area you are interested in; you have some expertise and you are willing to help others. And that’s exactly what Leslie has done for years. Right out of graduate school, she served in the poorest areas of the Dominican Republic with the Peace Corp; started the first Food Bank in Nevada and worked for years establishing a network of child protective community services. Out of these personal experiences and passion, Leslie has become the valuable “go-to” person on these issues. This is her reputation and a very powerful influential brand. She’s an inspiration to all of us!
Power of Branding on SouthWest Airlines
Even though it’s crowded and a bit chaotic, I still am a loyal SouthWest Airlines customer. I fly back and forth to the East Coast frequently with two college kids in New York and my twin sister, Diane, in Boston. And I always fly SouthWest if I can. Why? Because they are more personal, they don’t give me a hard time, and those peanuts taste pretty good after the 5th hour in the air.
So I never really thought about the SouthWest corporate brand until a recent trip when I overheard two young boys talking to their Dad in the row behind me. “So Daddy, why do you always fly Southwest?” It didn’t take Dad long to respond . . . “Because the fares are cheaper. They allow two bags for free. And they are more fun.”
Wow, that’s really what powerful branding is all about. People asking each other why they do business with certain companies. SouthWest figured this out years ago . . . create customer loyalty through personal connection and proven unique promise of value. This is their personal corporate brand and it’s authentic, consistent and incredibly successful. And the yearly ratings of all the airlines always have SouthWest at the top – just like the customers are talking about. Now that is business success!
So what can we learn from SouthWest Airlines both personally and professionally? A lot. It starts with looking carefully at who we really are & how we want to be know (first impressions, reputation & legacy); the unique value we want to bring to others; who we want to be engaged with and then finally being able to communicate that value to them. The overall result is an authentic personal brand profile that is in alignment with you in this time of your life
The Pony Express – Riding as One
They ride as one. Horse and rider committed to the speedy and safe delivery of the U.S mail working in harmony each doing what they do best.
Here’s what we can learn from watching this amazing teamwork. When we have a burning passion and an unflinching commitment to accomplish something beyond ourselves we must ride as one unit. We can’t do it alone. Together we are strong and resilient. And the Pony Express annual Re-Ride demonstrates exactly that.
Watching the 2012 Pony Express Re-Ride come through Northern Nevada in June was an incredible experience. I had never seen it personally so when our Beer Club friend, Petra Keller, invited us to come watch her ride a portion of this famous trail I had to push the “yes” button.
And it gave me goose bumps to watch these beautiful and hardy horses carry their dedicated riders (from teens to80 years old) across miles and miles of Nevada desert. Each rider and horse takes a segment of the route which began this year in Sacramento on Wednesday, June 13th and ended in Saint Joseph, Missouri on Saturday, June 23rd. They travel over the original Pony Express route (1966 miles) going through eight states. 600 volunteers coordinate the logistics and support for the horses and riders including the setup of an impressive communications system.
And where’s the mail? That was interesting . . . the horse carries a 100 lb. leather mail bag called a “mochila”. The mochila has 4 compartments and lifts up and over the saddle to be as balanced as possible. Transferring it from one horse to the next is much like watching the Olympic Torch being handed off from runner to runner. But it’s even better because you are watching two horses and two riders working closely together to help each other accomplish this tricky but quick and efficient transfer.
So think about this . . . if there is something really important to you that you are passionate about accomplishing resist the temptation to be the Lone Ranger. Instead, look for a solid team mate that will put in the hard work, the long miles and the serious sweat to deliver the goal. Or in the case of the Pony Express to deliver the mail!
Weathering the Storm in an Outhouse
Now this was a stroke of genius or maybe it was pure survival. I loved this story but more importantly the lesson it gives us on how to survive the many storms in our lives. My take-away . . . we definitely need to practice more “out-of-the-box” or in this case “in the outhouse” thinking!
In June 2012, 41 young college ROTC cadets on a training exercise are caught in a torrential rain storm in the woods of Fort Lewis, WA. The storm had come on so fast and so strong that the cadets didn’t have their wet weather gear with them or even where they could get back to their packs. The cadets were quickly soaked to the bone and freezing with the nighttime temperatures dropping to 15 degrees.
To try and get some kind of protection, they first formed tight circles with the smallest cadets in the middle. My niece, Meghan, at 103 lbs, was encircled but the rain and cold was too much. There was no shelter . . . except for a bunch of outhouses in a row in among the trees. And then someone had an idea . . .
So with a quick count-off, the cadets divided themselves up into groups of four and into the outhouses they went. Ten outhouses x 4 = 40 cadets in from the storm. But what happened to the 41st cadet? One of those outhouses must have been really stuffed. In a quick phone call, I asked Meghan how did all those big guys fit in those very small outhouses? No time to be fussy . . . two stood on the bench and two on either side of the toilet. And that 41st cadet probably had to straddle the toilet seat. Not a pretty sight or smell.
But when the rain had slowed, all ten outhouse doors popped open at the same time and the young ROTC cadets marched smartly out in formation having weathered this storm in a most unique way. Of course, hopefully they marched straight back to their barracks for hot showers.
Still exhausted from 17 days out in the field and an immediate turn around to her next assignment in Korea, Meghan wasn’t seeing the humor in this experience. But she will when she gets home and drys out from the typhoon coming through Fort Casey (NW South Korea) as I write this. Home is going to look really good to her.
And our hats off to our young military volunteers for their service, commitment and good sense when weathering the many storms in our lives. Thank you for all that you do!
Use Mind-Mapping to Jog Your Memory
After years of working and living, each of us is in numerous personal and professional networks – some that come to mind quickly and others we may have forgotten about. But how do we remember these connections?
Try using a mind map picture. It’s easy. Start with a blank piece of white paper. Draw a small circle in the middle—that’s you—and now draw several lines shooting off from the central circle. Put circles at the end of those lines. Name those circles for the networks that come easily to mind.
For example, I started with simple networks (often geographic areas) such as: Reno Work; Military Life; Norway; Virginia; San Diego; Kids’ School etc. Next, I chunked those larger networks down starting with my current work which I broke down to colleagues, favorite companies, professional development, etc.
Mind mapping is a way to jog your memory. I’m starting to remember all sorts of folks that I would enjoy reaching out to. With today’s technology—especially Facebook & LinkedIn— that’s not hard to do. I’m going to start with just a handful of favorite “old” friends and see where those lines take me. I’ll let you know what happens and please tell me how it is working for you as well.