Chapter 1: Reflecting on Leadership Experiences

Recently, my church shared a thought-provoking quote on Facebook:

'Leadership is communicating to people their worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves.' This resonated with me as I reflected on the stark contrast in leadership approaches between my previous job and my current role.

During the pandemic, I made the significant decision to leave a library system where I had been employed for 25 years. My dissatisfaction had been growing prior to the pandemic, and the crisis underscored my need for change. A primary concern in my past workplace was the management style. After transitioning to a new branch with a different manager, I encountered a variety of leadership challenges.

With over 20 years of experience, including extensive scheduling at the largest branch, I expected to be treated as an expert. Yet, my new manager insisted on reviewing my scheduling before I could finalize it. During the pandemic, despite completing the scheduling tasks, she would not allow me to publish it, expressing distrust in my abilities. Almost every aspect of my work was scrutinized and micromanaged. I often felt as if I lacked the autonomy to perform my role, even after two decades of service. Each time I called in sick, it was brought up repeatedly, despite my having thousands of unused sick hours. Vacations were also mentioned as if I had committed an offense. Despite my dedication, promotions were elusive, and management seemed indifferent to my resignation, viewing me as merely a replaceable part of the organization.

After much contemplation about my career post-library, I found a rewarding opportunity volunteering at a therapeutic riding facility. The contrast in leadership here is remarkable:

I receive frequent affirmations of appreciation for even the smallest tasks. My strengths are recognized, and I am encouraged to utilize them in my work. There is patience shown as I learn new skills, and after only five months of volunteering, I was invited to take on a new role that required independent work. Following just one shift of shadowing, I was trusted to perform the job solo—no micromanagement involved. When I approached the leader with a question about the new role, she first expressed her gratitude for my contributions, highlighting how well the arenas were maintained. I genuinely feel valued and believe my absence would be felt.

While it may be simpler to express gratitude towards volunteers rather than paid employees, my previous workplace—and many others—could learn valuable lessons from the management at the riding center.

Creating a culture of appreciation and recognition is not as challenging as it may seem.

The first video titled "The Tale Of Two Leaders" explores the different leadership styles and their impacts on teams.

Chapter 2: A Study in Leadership Dynamics

In the second video, "Transform or Transact: A Tale of Two Leadership Styles," a deeper examination of contrasting leadership methods is presented, focusing on the necessity of transformation in effective leadership.