Q4 2018 Core Value Winner: Think Big & Make It Happen
The trust fall. I remember my first experience with this multi-decade old team building activity. I was a teenager, and I was falling into the arms of other teenagers. I knew enough of them to picture them withdrawing their arms and laughing at the result of their actions. I figured I had a 50-50 chance of hitting the ground. Truth is, I didn’t hit the ground, but I wasn’t willing to try it again. I had, after all, given it a 50-50 chance; why take a chance at proving the odds correct?
Assessing The Risk
Trust falls occur every day within Clickstop. We expect each other to take educated risks and own their success or failure. We expect each other to re-imagine situations to discover best solutions, and question existing methods, recommending better approaches. If this is not a culture you are accustomed to, it can feel much like my experience of falling into the arms of the teenagers. However, the situation is much different.
The group of teenagers had values that revealed a propensity for laughter at the expense of another. That doesn’t breed trust. But at Clickstop, we have values that are a declaration of who we are and who we want to be. Each day, people live out these values, which impacts their behaviors. These behaviors produce results. The results are evidenced in the growth of the business and in the cultural awards that we’ve received. So, when a new employee enters in, there is a choice to be made. Do I trust that the expectations for how we work are true? What if I take a risk and fail? What if I propose an alternative approach to an existing method that someone is uncomfortable with?
Testing The Values
Trust is built by testing the expectations of the relationship. For Marissa Romano, she has been freed to move towards her ideas of improvement by trusting that the culture of Clickstop is truly one that is based on its clearly defined values and behaviors. Rather than focusing on what could potentially go wrong, Marissa has focused on the potential impact that her ideas could create if they go well. Because she has been courageous in presenting her ideas, we have a better process for assessing and addressing the needs of potential clients of Leverage.
We are pleased to recognize Marissa Romano as our Q4 2018 Core Value Winner for Think Big & Make It Happen. Well done, Marissa!
The Interview
What is your role at Clickstop?
Campaign Marketing Strategist
How long have you worked at Clickstop?
Just a little over 1 year.
How did you feel upon being recognized for this award?
I was grateful, knowing that it was a peer nomination award and that my work was being noticed.
What do you believe has led up to this recognition?
I really think this comes from the strides I’ve made as a result of how Clickstop has developed us as individuals.
Thinking big is something we are all capable of, I think the make it happen part is really hard. I think behaviors or characteristics that help make things happen are: decisive, a willingness to fail, ability to learn from mistakes and evolve as you go. It’s not going to be perfect on the first shot.
Have you had struggles within this Core Value? If so, what have they been and how did you overcome them?
Yes, most certainly. I am naturally a play-it-safe, very risk averse person and I really struggled with putting ideas out there for fear of failure. Much of my growth in this area stems from a few leaders I’ve had here. On many occasions I’ve been encouraged to shake loose and instead of thinking about what the worst thing that could happen, switch gears and focus on the best thing that could happen. That really opened the doors for me to share ideas and take action to implement them.
Why is this Core Value important to the success of Clickstop?
Clickstop was built on big ideas. What goes on within these walls is a result of risk-takers, go-getters, and action-oriented people. Phil, one of the leaders here always says, there is no greater burden than a good idea. Here, you really feel that. If you have that idea, it’s yours to own and make happen.
What can we find you doing when you’re not at work?
I’m either binging Netflix with my fiancé, trying to train my monster of a puppy (can you call a 1-year-old dog a puppy?), or flying back to the East Coast to visit family.
What brought you to Clickstop?
I was making the move to the Midwest and got an interview at Clickstop, I knew it was different. I loved the fact that the team did group interviews, it felt like an authentic workplace where the team members have a voice in their careers. I also loved that the core values felt very aligned with what I expected of myself, especially communication and driving change.
What keeps you at Clickstop?
Every day, I feel refreshed and motivated to tackle the challenges ahead. This is because I feel my manager, team and my company all care about who I am as a person. They let you balance work and home. Often even when you don’t let yourself balance it, they course correct for you. That is huge for me. I don’t feel burned out because I am able to make time for other things I enjoy in life.
What TV / Netflix Show currently has your attention?
Right now, I’m binge-watching This is Us, I didn’t get into it from the start so we’re catching up. So far, it’s fantastic.
What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?
I’d be a traveling food blogger so I could go see awesome places and try different cuisines.
What book do you most remember from your childhood?
Nancy Drew, I’ve always been interested in mysteries.