Address the Underlying Issues
John Spanczak can tell a good story. Through detail and humor, you’ll likely be drawn in. As a case in point, check out his story about the silliest way he’s been injured. But his impact inside and outside the walls of Clickstop goes beyond putting smiles on faces. He’s a team member focused on engagement and has helped others gain clarity in how to pursue it.
If you’ve worked closely with him, you know he’s someone who asks questions to understand where you’re at and frequently challenges your thinking to help you, and our team, become better. He’s been quick to collaborate and facilitate discussion that increases awareness and reveals underlying issues. As a result, Clickstoppers have increased their level of commitment to, and aligned action with, our mission, values, strategies and goals.
This is consistent whether he’s working within Clickstop or within organizations we’ve partnered with through Leverage. John’s ability to build relationships while simultaneously holding people to a high standard has earned him recognition as our Q2 ‘Communicate’ award winner.
More Specifics
- Inside of Clickstop, he’s been able to help individuals and teams identify important, and sometimes tense, topics and address them in a way that inspires greatness.
- In April, John re-worked the leadership peer group at Clickstop to provide increased clarity around the direction and learning of the group and set a high standard for involvement from participants.
- Outside of Clickstop, he’s facilitated several challenging conversations with groups of leaders and individual contributors, motivating action and individual ownership to drive high engagement in the workplace.
Well done, John!
The Interview
What is your role at Clickstop?
Director of Employee Engagement Services
How long have you worked at Clickstop?
I have been at Clickstop for about 2.5 years
What brought you to Clickstop?
I was looking for a challenge and a place to call home. My previous role was defunded, and I was looking for an opportunity I knew I would enjoy for the long term. I had played softball with Cody Smith and a lot of the Warehouse guys and they all raved about working here. Once I saw our values and that they were not just words up on a wall, I knew this was the place for me!
What effect has this recognition had upon you?
I certainly feel honored. It demonstrates that the way I am working is in alignment with how we want to work at Clickstop.
What do you believe has led up to this recognition?
When the pandemic hit, and our team endured some major shifts in how we work. This led to me owning more work internally. To keep things rolling and efficient, I relied on clear and concise communication to ensure our teams internally and externally had the support they needed to keep the bar set high and drive great results. That meant having tough conversations where they were needed and taking time to celebrate when things were going well. More than anything right now, communication is essential to ensure employees feel cared for.
Who has supported you in achieving these results?
Certainly Monica. Monica is a great communicator and has demonstrated what it means to have the courage to say what needs to be said even when it is uncomfortable. On Talent Enrichment, she pushes us to challenge each other, to be respectful, and to clearly articulate our convictions. I think this makes us better communicators and a stronger team as a result.
What is a recent challenge/obstacle you’ve overcome through the behaviors within this Core Trait?
I think these last few months have been a series of perpetual challenges that have been overcome with communication. Whether is was the downsizing of our teams, the emotional rollercoaster of a pandemic, or the state of our socio-political-economic-racial views, there has been a lot to process. While we are here to run a business, we are doing it with human beings with real worries and concerns. Our ability to be open, honest, and willing to listen has helped us not just survive the last quarter but see opportunities to thrive in it.
What should people know about working at Clickstop?
Clickstop is a place where employee ownership really means ownership. Employees are empowered to drive their development, cast their visions, and inspire changes to make this place the best it can possibly be. People who want to coast do not typically fit in. We are a team of individuals banded together to create a company that is enjoyable, sustainable, and provides opportunities for those who seek them.
If you could never have to do one chore for the rest of life, what would it be?
Sweeping. It is really a pointless activity, there is always something left on the floor. Technology has improved people! Use a vacuum!
What is the silliest way you’ve been injured?
Well this one time when I was a child, I was being chased by these girls with water balloons. I was pretty fast at the time, so my evasive maneuvers were doing the trick, but maybe inflated my confidence a tad too much. I happened to look back at the wrong time and BAM! I ran into a tree…It hurt. I bloodied up my knee. And my laying on the ground in agony gave the girls enough time to catch up and drown me in balloons and buckets of water. It was embarrassing.
What are your superstitions?
I am not SUPERstitious, but I am a little stitious. I do like to keep things a certain way if things are going well, so routine is a big part of my life. For example, I would park in the same spot at Clickstop every day to ensure I was going to have a good day. There are a lot of little examples of that: Lucky shoes, always putting my stuff in the same spots, going back to pick up something I dropped because it did not belong there.
If you could ask your pet 3 questions, what would they be?
Where in the world were you?
How is that comfortable?
What are you thinking about right now?
Cake or pie?
Cake. I am not even going to argue with you. Pie is pointless. If I wanted a serving of fruit, I’d eat a banana. Ever wonder why pie is served with a little scoop of ice cream on the side? Because it is not good enough to stand by itself. If I am having dessert, give me the good stuff! I mean do not get me wrong, I eat it, because I have no willpower. But, if given the choice, I would pick cake every time.