DISCOVER YOUR INNER CHEERLEADER
Directly out of
college, I moved to the Mississippi Delta to serve as an AmeriCorps volunteer
in the small town of Tutwiler, MS. My
role was the Affiliate Coordinator for the West Tallahatchie Habitat for
Humanity chapter. My three years in the Delta were life changing – and not just
because I met my husband there. As with
all life changing events, I’m still realizing the impact of what I learned
during that time. When I began my
coaching journey, I was constantly reminded of events during my Habitat days
that were a direct line to the person, and the leader, I am today.
My Habitat days
remind me that I’ve always wanted to help other people. That has looked different throughout the
years, but my time with Habitat and my current coaching career are probably the
most direct ways I have helped others, in my professional life. They are also among my most fulfilling
endeavors, no surprise there. Another reminder is that I often lead and act
from my gut. It was a surprise to
everyone when I decided to up and move to one of the most rural areas in the
country after spending a lifetime living in and around Chicago and studying art
history in Paris and Chicagoland. But I
knew, I just knew, that I needed to make the move, to see new things and to
really, really get out of my comfort zone.
When I first moved
to Mississippi, there were many things I didn’t know how to do (roof a house,
make real macaroni and cheese, deal with crazy mosquitos) but one thing
I did know how to do was empower people.
For those not overly familiar with a Habitat building site, you have a
site coordinator (that was my role), a construction supervisor, and a bunch of
well meaning, but not necessarily experienced, volunteers. Where I worked, the construction supervisor
might be a member of the volunteer group, a Habitat International volunteer who
would come for a few weeks, or, as I gained more skills, me. Don’t worry, I was never in charge of the
roofing or the plumbing, but, as the only “employee”, at the end of the day, I
was in charge of making sure it all got done and got done well. And that’s where I discovered one of my
leadership superpowers – my inner cheerleader.
While I couldn’t
lead the charge in framing the house, I could lead the group in feeling good
about the work they were doing. This
might sound easy since we’re talking about people who came to do “feel good”
work, but it can be quite daunting to come onto a work site for the first time,
in the Mississippi heat, with limited resources. When people sign up for a Habitat build, they
all want to be the people lifting the trusses onto the roof or framing the
walls. It’s less glamorous to move
siding from one side of the lot to the other or to stain trim. Less glamorous, but no less necessary. It takes all parts to make a house, and
that’s what being a volunteer with Habitat is all about, making a difference in
the lives of others by doing whatever part of the building needs to be done.
When volunteers were
less than thrilled with their given tasks, or when the temperature was 102
before lunchtime or when the bugs were eating them alive (did I mention the
mosquitos?!) – or even when a volunteer was thrilled with their task but had no
idea how to do it (installing drywall on a ceiling looks easier than it is!),
my inner cheerleader came into full force.
Just being a positive, kind and open leader would instantly change the
mood of the site. Encouragement comes in
many forms but being genuine and empathetic helps people understand that we’re
all in this together. A kind word, an
encouraging phrase or a “you’re right, this sucks, let’s talk through the
options” lifts people up, lets them know they are heard and seen, and
encourages them to keep going. So, while
I was never an actual cheerleader, I was the biggest fan of my volunteers and,
in turn, they gave me their best efforts.
As a coach, I’ve
learned that my energy plays a huge part in my client’s coaching
experience. Positive – always – but
also, trusting, aware, present, curious, authentic. Each of these has a slightly different
energy, but, together, they create an environment where people feel safe and
free to dream. When people first meet
with me, or any coach, they really don’t know what to expect. Will this person tell me I’m wrong? Will this person need all of my backstory? Will this person tell me what to do in my
career or life? The simple answer is
no. This person, this coach, will be
kind, open and authentic – and asks the same of you, both with the coach, and
with yourself. As coaches, it isn’t our
responsibility to lift up our clients, it’s our responsibility – and honor – to
sit with them, wherever they are in the moment.
And sometimes, this looks like being a cheerleader. And when it does, I’m instantly brought back
to my Habitat days and the authenticity shared with my volunteers.
Who has been a
cheerleader in your life? Who – and what
– do you champion? What is your go-to
energy?
Inquiry – what is the energy you want to share with those around you?
Learn more about the amazing work being done
by the folks at West Tallahatchie Habitat for Humanity at the Tutwiler
Community Education Center’s website.
