Helpers

Sometimes I think about leadership so often that I don’t want to think about it for a while, which is exactly what happened when I sat down to write this quick opening and I was stumped. My eight-year-old son asked what I was doing.

“I am trying to write about leadership and I need your help. What makes someone a good leader?” I don’t know.

“Do you know any good leaders?” Yes, you…and Dad. And Sponge Bob Square Pants.

I could see this was not going to get me where I wanted to go. I pressed for specific examples of why my husband, Sponge Bob, and I were “good leaders” in his mind.

“Tell me more.” Sponge Bob makes hamburgers. He feeds people, that helps them. You and Dad teach people, you help them.

Now we were getting somewhere. I leaned into this conversation, listening closely to all the ways he identified that people (mostly cartoon characters) were good leaders and each example pointed back to helping people.

In Leadership Montana, we believe that we can all lead from wherever we sit on the organizational chart. A leader does not need a desk in the corner office or a C-Suite title. The responsibly of leadership belongs to all of us and our ability to help others lives in all of us, too.

Especially now, we need strong leaders and brave helpers. The good news is, we can be what we need. In this newsletter, you have an opportunity to learn about Paula Eberling, a helper indeed. You have a chance to nominate those alumni among us to lead and serve in Montana, helpers to be sure. We have many opportunities to recognize the helpers among us and within ourselves.

Here is a quick article with tips to help us all be the helpers our world needs.

Helping Others Makes Better Leaders (5 Tips to Grow Others)

Be well and lead well,

Chantel M. Schieffer
President & CEO
Class of 2010, Masters 2019