Each month, Prairie Business Magazine speaks with area leaders to learn more about a specific topic. This month we asked, “What's the best business advice you've ever received? And why?”
julie whitney
Senior Vice President, Commercial Bank Manager
bremer bank
Fargo, North Dakota
In the words of Brené Brown, “clarity is kind and vagueness is unkind.” This simple statement, which emphasizes the critical role of transparent communication, has had a huge impact on my approach to business and leadership.
In my experience, ambiguity leads to misunderstandings, inefficiencies, and even conflicts. The result is a culture of assumptions and assumptions that can reduce productivity and damage relationships. Even when dealing with difficult or uncomfortable situations, clarity promotes understanding and trust.
The overall environment I strive to foster is one of trust and compassion. I respect my team's time and effort and value honesty and transparency over superficial harmony. When you are clear about your expectations, feedback, and communication, you take the guesswork out of it with your team.
For me, “being clear is kind” reduces stress from unspoken issues and creates a healthier, more positive work environment. It allows me to lead with integrity and integrity.
___
troy walker
Director of Sales and Marketing
dakota carrier network
Bismarck, North Dakota
“Speak less and listen more.'' Four words that I value both professionally and personally. To be honest, I don't remember who first told me that or if I read it in a book, but I've benefited from that advice many times throughout my career. . This means actively listening, rather than just sitting silently, nodding every now and then, or thinking about what to have for lunch.
Active listening is participatory, asking questions, seeking additional information, and truly listening for answers. You don't think ahead how to defend against what they say, and you put off forming an opinion or a solution. Whether it's a conversation with your employees, customers, or family members, listening can help you understand what people want, what they need, and sometimes where you're falling short. You will be able to understand. And it can be difficult! Research shows that the majority of people believe they are good listeners when in fact they are not. You may need to train yourself to ignore your phone or smartwatch or accept a few seconds of silence. Listening can be difficult, but it can help you understand what people want and expect, including your employees, customers, family, and friends. In the end, this builds trust and creates a stronger relationship, so it's worth the effort.
___
Tim Allens
Vice President and Senior Civil Transportation Engineer
Ackermann Estwold
Fargo, North Dakota
As a lead civil engineer in the transportation department at Ackermann Estwold, the best advice I ever received centered around building integrity. We hear that integrity is important, but what does it mean and how do leaders maintain it? Here are the key skills I learned to foster integrity .
Honesty is essential. Admit your mistake and learn from it, apologize, and offer an explanation and course correction. Honesty builds trust with clients and colleagues. This means keeping our promises and meeting the expectations of our clients and team members. This includes responding promptly to emails and phone calls, even if just to confirm receipt.
Another way to show integrity is by connecting with people: your colleagues. Mentoring your colleagues is very important. Don't ignore small mistakes that can turn into big ones, be vulnerable and collaborate, share both successes and failures, and learn from the experiences of others. We demonstrate a commitment to improving our work and our industry by improving ourselves and helping others improve their knowledge.
Finally, being a person of integrity requires sharing praise with your team members and colleagues. Success very rarely comes without the involvement of others. Don't forget to thank those who have helped you progress, especially clients who have given you new opportunities, and recognize team members who contributed to the success of your project. It's not just about thanking “all parties” involved in the project. Be specific and call out who is responsible for your team's success. As leaders, it's our responsibility to identify the specific value our team members bring to the organization and reward them for the qualities that drive success.
___
