A collaborative, creative, and risk-tolerant culture delivers results that exceed expectations.

I’ve had many opportunities to take leadership assignments in organizations that were underperforming or outright failing.

It was not uncommon for an entire organization to be judged by management as lacking the talent to succeed.

But after spending time inside these organizations, it was apparent that the culture was a desert.

To me, leadership is like gardening. Leaders create fertile soil so everybody can blossom. Great leaders are master gardeners. They create an environment where a diverse group of people can feel safe, valued, included, empowered, challenged, and called to a meaningful purpose.

In fertile ground, we grow into the amazing people we’re meant to be. 

There are many MANAGERS and too few leaders. Leaders enable the success of their people. They ensure safety and support for people to show up authentically, take risks to create innovative products and services, and accept full responsibility for making amazing things happen.

A collaborative, creative, risk-tolerant, and inclusive culture delivers results that exceed stakeholder’s expectations.

When we deliver desired results, nobody cares what style or approach we use to achieve it. This knowledge empowers me - and YOU - to freely create a workplace culture aligned with our values.

When I led in this manner during my long career in technology, I felt free to be authentic Shaunna. I could try new approaches that felt natural to me. As a leader, I wanted to make work a place of community where we could share a meaningful purpose, support each other’s work-life, deliver outstanding results, and celebrate our achievements with recognition and rewards.

When we are passionate about making work good for everyone, we are creating value for all our stakeholders.

Grit and Grace

Professor Angela Lee Duckworth defines grit as the passion and perseverance to work hard to make your desired future a reality. It requires a growth mindset, a willingness to listen to your intuition and resilience in failure.

Grace is something we know when we see it – the kindness, care and commitment to another’s well-being. It occurs when we deeply “see” another and their unique humanity.

Leading with grit and grace allows us to create beautiful gardens where everyone can unleash their fullest potential to create the lives, families, organizations and communities they desire.

Start right now to reach a heart-centered success:

1: Silence your inner critic. Love yourself.

2: Assume goodness in others. Understand no one wakes up in the morning and thinks “how can I fail today?” Everyone wants to be successful and contribute to their team’s success. 

3: Seek out ways to make your workplace good for everyone. Clearly define success. Help everyone understand how they contribute. Remove barriers. Celebrate together.

Outstanding results follow when you lead with your heart. I am here today to give you permission to lead this way.