Growing Our Leaders: A Glimpse into the CBJ Leadership Academy
Clickstop’s commitment to growing our leaders takes center stage as Logan Hansen, Controller, and Stephanie Mayer, Purchasing Manager, tell us more about their experience in the Corridor Business Journal (CBJ) Leadership Academy. Both Logan and Stephanie recently emerged from the program, a five-session, multi-month journey aimed at honing leadership skills and fostering growth.
Previously, Logan got wind of the CBJ Leadership Academy from other Clickstop leaders, including Cari McCoy (Chief Executive Officer) and Matt Mitchell (Chief Growth Officer). Despite scheduling hiccups last year, Logan jumped at the chance this year. For Stephanie, the allure was the promise of fresh perspectives, delving into the psychological side of leadership that helps managers prioritize both individual and company interests.
Let’s dive into their experiences over the past few months!
Impacts and Revelations
At the end of the day, Logan and Stephanie were most impacted by the academy’s emphasis on why being a great coach can lead to being a great manager. While none of what was covered in the sessions was new or mind-blowing, it continued to reinforce what being a great manager means in practice.
In one of their first sessions, they discussed how being a great manager requires you to understand how you show up and how people perceive you. The academy’s immersive approach prompted participants to start by digging deep into their personal and professional histories.
Logan vividly recounted a session where the group unpacked the origins of their behaviors, laying bare the age-old debate of nature versus nurture. It even brought some of his cohort members to tears. This exploration took on added significance for Logan, now viewing it through the lens of impending parenthood.
“Seeing how your background has shaped how you show up today was really profound,” shared Logan. “Being aware of how you show up allows you to see that in other people. It keeps you open to a diversity of thought and experience. It also made me reflect on how we’re raising the next generation and the impact I have on my son when he’s born.”
This session led them both to see how understanding themselves and being aware of the emotions that people bring to work can have a transformative impact on individual team members and the company.
You Don’t Have to Know It All.
With empathy top of mind, Logan and Stephanie reflected on how they build trust with employees. “As a servant leader, trust with team members is fundamental,” said Logan. “By remembering to be a great coach instead of an expert in everything, I am able to build trust, develop the people around me, and create more leaders.”
Stephanie echoed this sentiment. While it was something she’d heard before, it was still validating and a great reminder that she didn’t need to know it all.
“The advice they gave us was, ‘don’t find the answers for your team,’” said Stephanie. “Be transparent that you don’t know the answer, but you’ll figure it out together; help coach them to get to find the answer; and ask them what they recommend.”
Later in the Academy sessions, Logan and Stephanie were able to hear from a panel of local CEOs, including Clickstop’s own Cari McCoy. What they heard continued the theme they’d heard in earlier sessions, no one is an expert in everything so build strong teams around you. These leaders underscored the paramount importance of robust teams in effectively taking the company’s vision into reality, reinforcing the idea that leaders need not be walking encyclopedias.
A Ripple Effect on Work and Beyond
As intended, the academy’s influence moved from sessions to real-life applications. Stephanie noted that immediately after sessions she was able to redirect her focus towards amplifying positive aspects within challenging situations. It became a catalyst for directing attention back to strengths and positives, steering clear of the quagmire of problems.
Outside the workplace, both Logan and Stephanie stress the relevance of leadership insights in navigating the terrain of parenthood. As we mentioned, with Logan about to enter fatherhood, he’s seeing the application of these skills in new and different ways. Lastly, they both participated in the Academy’s community service project benefiting Feed Iowa First, which unveiled untapped opportunities to create more impact in her community.
Recommendations
As they share their experience with their team members and the community, they both highly recommended this experience for people in different places in their leadership journey.
Stephanie extends an endorsement for emerging leaders, highlighting the depth of the five intense sessions compared to training traditionally provided to companies that are only an hour long. On the other hand, Logan recommends the experience for leaders with some mileage under their belts, those yearning to make a more profound impact.
They did share one message for people considering this opportunity: It’s for individuals disenchanted with the status quo, fervently seeking avenues for continuous improvement.
While Logan and Stephanie were both at different points in their leadership journey and had varied takeaways, they both emphasized their gratitude for the opportunity. In their eyes, the investment made by their employer in the CBJ Leadership Academy was a testament to Clickstop’s dedication to cultivating a culture of growth, engagement, and leadership excellence.