WEBVTT
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.080
You're listening to episode 89 of the Lead Into a Podcast.
00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:09.279
Hi, and welcome back to another episode of Lead Into It.
00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:10.640
I'm your host, Sarah Greco.
00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:15.359
So this one's a little shorter than normal, but it's a segment I'm excited to share.
00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:20.960
A few years ago, I sat down with Kathy Mitchell, and Kathy ran the protocol program at Charleston Air Force Base.
00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:25.359
So she was responsible for a lot of big visits, ceremonies, and dignitary events.
00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:27.280
More than 150 a year.
00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:30.800
So you would think that the segment would be about one of those big events.
00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:31.760
It's not.
00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:33.439
Actually, it's about binders.
00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:34.560
Yes, binders.
00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:44.960
Kathy talked about how when she was learning the job, she started writing down things so that the person who came after her wouldn't have to learn and figure everything out the hard way, like she had.
00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:48.079
And those binders stuck around for a really, really long time.
00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:50.719
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they are still there.
00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:54.880
I just love the story because it's such a simple example of leadership.
00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:57.759
Setting the next person up for success isn't complicated.
00:00:57.840 --> 00:01:01.119
It's just taking what you've learned and making sure that they don't start from zero.
00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:02.320
So here's the clip.
00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:06.319
You talked a little bit earlier about confidence and not really having much.
00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:10.079
How did you, over the course of time, gain that confidence?
00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:14.879
Because I can see it with you a little bit more as we were getting through this conversation.
00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:19.599
And I'll tell you that when I was younger, you hit it right on the head.
00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:20.400
I was very shy.
00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:21.840
I was very quiet.
00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:29.439
I played a lot of sports and I was involved in things, but it wasn't something that I needed to stand out or I needed to be the best there.
00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:32.560
I just wanted to be a part of something that was bigger than myself.
00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:36.400
And I think that's always been how I am naturally.
00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:45.920
When we came to Charleston and I was still somewhat of a young military wife, I joined an organization, a volunteer organization called the Somerville Junior Chamber of Commerce.
00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:51.519
And there was a gentleman that actually spoke at my retirement that that hit it exact for me.
00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:55.120
His name was Barry Loonham, and he would probably want everybody to know his name.
00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:58.959
He was a retired lieutenant commander who was a powerhouse with people.
00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:01.040
He knew how to have an impact.
00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:04.640
And so, yes, he was probably one of my greatest mentors.
00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:11.840
He encouraged me to do everything from speak up competitions to take leadership roles.
00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:14.159
Now, mind you, then my husband was deployed a lot.
00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:15.280
The children were young.
00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:17.199
They were in all kinds of sports.
00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:20.560
But I had the opportunity to serve the chapter in many ways.
00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:40.479
I led a lot of the projects in Somerville, whether it was putting together a children's fundraiser or if it was the Christmas, the Christmas parade, I became the chapter's management development vice president, which meant I was in charge of putting together planning and executing how to put on a project, how to host an event.
00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:48.319
We would write these books that were called chairman planning guides, and it's a funny phrase or even stage to think about, but it was a binder.
00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:55.439
And in that binder was your references on who to contact, who did this project before, where could you get funding.
00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:56.159
Awesome.
00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:07.680
And all of those things, it's funny, we had those binders all lined up on my shelves in protocol because when a new project officer came in, we would hand them a binder that said, we've done this event a couple hundred times.
00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:12.400
Here are the things that'll help you not do or waste your time doing.
00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:14.000
These will help you execute it.
00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:17.280
Do it your way, but here's a guide that really does help.
00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:22.000
I can't believe 10, 15 years later, that those binders were utilized all the time.
00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:25.280
So learning that gave me confidence.
00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:34.800
Once I spent, I want to say 10 or 12 years in the JC organization, I took on roles at the state level and I traveled around the state.
00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:38.000
And I was the management development vice president for the state.
00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:48.159
And so teaching other chapters, you know, 10, 15 other chapters, how to do those processes really gave me confidence because that process worked.
00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:50.080
And it wasn't a Kathy process.
00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:54.319
It was processes that I learned from everywhere I was.
00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:59.199
And it just helped people do a better job putting together if they were in a leadership role.
00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:00.240
It helped them succeed.
00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:03.919
So there's nothing more rewarding than watching someone succeed.
00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:17.439
And you can be that person, you know, at the very back of the room, but when they walk up and and I can't really exp explain what that feeling is like, but it was the same feeling we got when we were in the back of the room and you put together someone's retirement.
00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:26.720
It's not so much about the person retiring, but I always remembered the faces of the family, the grandparents that traveled so far to come watch this event.
00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:33.199
And all they remembered is how well they were taken care of and how respected their son or daughter were during their time.
00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:38.639
So there's so much more to it than just protocol or even, you know, Kathy.
00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:44.720
Because I could not ever have done any of what I did without all of the people that I had the chance to do that with.
00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:50.639
It's about, I mean, you're hitting it so hard when it comes to taking care of people.
00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:56.000
It's about taking care of who they are and making them successful.
00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:06.079
And in the retirements or promotion ceremonies or whatever it is, it's highlighting how successful they are to the audience that's with them, to their support system.
00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:13.839
And this is, I will say, this is one thing I've seen a huge difference when it comes to military versus civilian corporate work and all that.
00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:21.439
A lot of the corporate events that I've been to isn't necessarily always there's very few events where it's about the people.
00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:30.879
And I I was fortunate enough to work for Southwest and they were real, really good at taking care of the people and highlighting the people throughout their their entire career.
00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:41.360
But the military, it's like the people, their families, not blood families, but the people who are supporting them in their career at that moment, someone like you.
00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:49.600
And I think when it comes to taking care of people, it's not just about making sure you respond to emails.
00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:51.600
It is about keeping.
00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:58.319
It's it's just it's about pay or like making sure they get a time card or making sure like it's it's so much more than that.
00:05:58.480 --> 00:06:00.639
It's it's making sure that they're successful.
00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:08.720
And I love hearing about those binders because you realized over the course of time, you're like, well, I had to learn this, but why would I make somebody else learn the same thing I had?
00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:12.319
Why can't I teach them and show them how they can be successful?
00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:16.800
And then they're already one step closer to where they were or where they need to be.
00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:17.279
Absolutely.
00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:18.879
And I think a lot of people miss that.
00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:20.560
They're like, Oh, I had to learn too.
00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:22.240
Why can't they learn the same way I did?
00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:25.120
Thanks for listening to another episode of Lead Into It.
00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:31.759
If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean a lot to me if you would leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help future listeners.
00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:37.759
If you want to learn more about the podcast or me, go to leadintoit.co, that's leadintoit.co.
00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:39.519
Thanks again.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.080
You're listening to episode 89 of the Lead Into a Podcast.
00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:09.279
Hi, and welcome back to another episode of Lead Into It.
00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:10.640
I'm your host, Sarah Greco.
00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:15.359
So this one's a little shorter than normal, but it's a segment I'm excited to share.
00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:20.960
A few years ago, I sat down with Kathy Mitchell, and Kathy ran the protocol program at Charleston Air Force Base.
00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:25.359
So she was responsible for a lot of big visits, ceremonies, and dignitary events.
00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:27.280
More than 150 a year.
00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:30.800
So you would think that the segment would be about one of those big events.
00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:31.760
It's not.
00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:33.439
Actually, it's about binders.
00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:34.560
Yes, binders.
00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:44.960
Kathy talked about how when she was learning the job, she started writing down things so that the person who came after her wouldn't have to learn and figure everything out the hard way, like she had.
00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:48.079
And those binders stuck around for a really, really long time.
00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:50.719
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they are still there.
00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:54.880
I just love the story because it's such a simple example of leadership.
00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:57.759
Setting the next person up for success isn't complicated.
00:00:57.840 --> 00:01:01.119
It's just taking what you've learned and making sure that they don't start from zero.
00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:02.320
So here's the clip.
00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:06.319
You talked a little bit earlier about confidence and not really having much.
00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:10.079
How did you, over the course of time, gain that confidence?
00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:14.879
Because I can see it with you a little bit more as we were getting through this conversation.
00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:19.599
And I'll tell you that when I was younger, you hit it right on the head.
00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:20.400
I was very shy.
00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:21.840
I was very quiet.
00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:29.439
I played a lot of sports and I was involved in things, but it wasn't something that I needed to stand out or I needed to be the best there.
00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:32.560
I just wanted to be a part of something that was bigger than myself.
00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:36.400
And I think that's always been how I am naturally.
00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:45.920
When we came to Charleston and I was still somewhat of a young military wife, I joined an organization, a volunteer organization called the Somerville Junior Chamber of Commerce.
00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:51.519
And there was a gentleman that actually spoke at my retirement that that hit it exact for me.
00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:55.120
His name was Barry Loonham, and he would probably want everybody to know his name.
00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:58.959
He was a retired lieutenant commander who was a powerhouse with people.
00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:01.040
He knew how to have an impact.
00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:04.640
And so, yes, he was probably one of my greatest mentors.
00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:11.840
He encouraged me to do everything from speak up competitions to take leadership roles.
00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:14.159
Now, mind you, then my husband was deployed a lot.
00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:15.280
The children were young.
00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:17.199
They were in all kinds of sports.
00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:20.560
But I had the opportunity to serve the chapter in many ways.
00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:40.479
I led a lot of the projects in Somerville, whether it was putting together a children's fundraiser or if it was the Christmas, the Christmas parade, I became the chapter's management development vice president, which meant I was in charge of putting together planning and executing how to put on a project, how to host an event.
00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:48.319
We would write these books that were called chairman planning guides, and it's a funny phrase or even stage to think about, but it was a binder.
00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:55.439
And in that binder was your references on who to contact, who did this project before, where could you get funding.
00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:56.159
Awesome.
00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:07.680
And all of those things, it's funny, we had those binders all lined up on my shelves in protocol because when a new project officer came in, we would hand them a binder that said, we've done this event a couple hundred times.
00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:12.400
Here are the things that'll help you not do or waste your time doing.
00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:14.000
These will help you execute it.
00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:17.280
Do it your way, but here's a guide that really does help.
00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:22.000
I can't believe 10, 15 years later, that those binders were utilized all the time.
00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:25.280
So learning that gave me confidence.
00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:34.800
Once I spent, I want to say 10 or 12 years in the JC organization, I took on roles at the state level and I traveled around the state.
00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:38.000
And I was the management development vice president for the state.
00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:48.159
And so teaching other chapters, you know, 10, 15 other chapters, how to do those processes really gave me confidence because that process worked.
00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:50.080
And it wasn't a Kathy process.
00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:54.319
It was processes that I learned from everywhere I was.
00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:59.199
And it just helped people do a better job putting together if they were in a leadership role.
00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:00.240
It helped them succeed.
00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:03.919
So there's nothing more rewarding than watching someone succeed.
00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:17.439
And you can be that person, you know, at the very back of the room, but when they walk up and and I can't really exp explain what that feeling is like, but it was the same feeling we got when we were in the back of the room and you put together someone's retirement.
00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:26.720
It's not so much about the person retiring, but I always remembered the faces of the family, the grandparents that traveled so far to come watch this event.
00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:33.199
And all they remembered is how well they were taken care of and how respected their son or daughter were during their time.
00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:38.639
So there's so much more to it than just protocol or even, you know, Kathy.
00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:44.720
Because I could not ever have done any of what I did without all of the people that I had the chance to do that with.
00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:50.639
It's about, I mean, you're hitting it so hard when it comes to taking care of people.
00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:56.000
It's about taking care of who they are and making them successful.
00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:06.079
And in the retirements or promotion ceremonies or whatever it is, it's highlighting how successful they are to the audience that's with them, to their support system.
00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:13.839
And this is, I will say, this is one thing I've seen a huge difference when it comes to military versus civilian corporate work and all that.
00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:21.439
A lot of the corporate events that I've been to isn't necessarily always there's very few events where it's about the people.
00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:30.879
And I I was fortunate enough to work for Southwest and they were real, really good at taking care of the people and highlighting the people throughout their their entire career.
00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:41.360
But the military, it's like the people, their families, not blood families, but the people who are supporting them in their career at that moment, someone like you.
00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:49.600
And I think when it comes to taking care of people, it's not just about making sure you respond to emails.
00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:51.600
It is about keeping.
00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:58.319
It's it's just it's about pay or like making sure they get a time card or making sure like it's it's so much more than that.
00:05:58.480 --> 00:06:00.639
It's it's making sure that they're successful.
00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:08.720
And I love hearing about those binders because you realized over the course of time, you're like, well, I had to learn this, but why would I make somebody else learn the same thing I had?
00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:12.319
Why can't I teach them and show them how they can be successful?
00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:16.800
And then they're already one step closer to where they were or where they need to be.
00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:17.279
Absolutely.
00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:18.879
And I think a lot of people miss that.
00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:20.560
They're like, Oh, I had to learn too.
00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:22.240
Why can't they learn the same way I did?
00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:25.120
Thanks for listening to another episode of Lead Into It.
00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:31.759
If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean a lot to me if you would leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help future listeners.
00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:37.759
If you want to learn more about the podcast or me, go to leadintoit.co, that's leadintoit.co.
00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:39.519
Thanks again.
