In this episode…
When growing leaders, organizations must foster an environment where individuals can reach their utmost potential. Leadership programs often focus on technical skills rather than the personal growth necessary to inspire and guide others. How can organizations create a culture that fosters leadership from within?
Authentic leader Vera Quinn says that leadership is an internal endeavor that begins with self-awareness and authenticity. She emphasizes the importance of developing personal strengths before leading others, identifying talent within the organization, and implementing structured development plans. Vera believes that organizations thrive when they cultivate a culture of belief and support, helping employees step into leadership roles with confidence. By aligning leadership development with core values and continuous improvement, businesses can create lasting results.
In the latest episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin invites Vera Quinn, the CEO and President of Cydcor, to talk about authentic leadership development. Vera shares team reflection exercises to learn from failure, how to become passionate about your role, and how to grow employees through focused people strategies.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
[2:13] Vera Quinn’s approach to growing leaders
[4:17] How Vera transitioned from a sales associate to a CEO
[7:27] Assuming a leadership role with authenticity
[16:21] Team reflection exercises for organizational losses
[18:50] How to cultivate passion within your role
[26:13] Cydcor’s sales leadership approach
[32:48] A case study of employee growth through people strategies
Quotable Moments:
“Leadership is an inside job first. Why would anybody follow me? What about me makes me followable?”
“Believe in people bigger than they believe in themselves. Support and protect their confidence.”
“There’s only one you. You were uniquely put on this earth to be you.”
“Every commitment you make, track it. Those things subtly undermine your belief in yourself.”
“You’re here to do something great. The closer I stick to who I am, the closer I am to finding that.”
Action Steps:
- Embrace authenticity: Embrace your unique qualities and be genuine in your interactions with your team. This builds trust and encourages others to follow you.
- Adopt a lifelong learning mindset: Continuously seek new knowledge and reflect on successes and failures. This allows you to stay adaptable and effective in a rapidly changing environment.
- Cultivate a supportive environment: Develop individual development plans and provide sufficient support and coaching. This helps individuals overcome their fears and builds their confidence in leadership roles.
- Focus on values alignment: Align your actions and decisions with core values to maintain integrity and consistency. This approach ensures your leadership style remains effective and relatable, especially when navigating complex situations.
- Encourage and model reflection: Regularly reflect on outcomes to foster a culture of constant improvement. This practice encourages a growth mindset and helps address setbacks constructively, turning them into learning opportunities.
About Vera Quinn
Vera Quinn is the CEO and President of Cydcor, a global provider of outsourced sales. In her role, she’s grown revenue by more than 35% and led the company’s retail and omnichannel expansion. Vera began her career in door-to-door sales and joined Cydcor over 25 years ago, serving in various roles, including Senior Vice President, Director of Operations, and COO.
Sponsor for this episode…
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