Kyle Cox sat down with Leadership Tri-Cities new executive director, Paul Casey, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership and learning.
In the conversation, he discussed his deep love for libraries and what they represent.
“I was on the State Library Board for six years, and we had meetings all over the State,” said Kyle.
On one trip back to Seattle, Kyle had a break between meetings and visited his childhood library in West Seattle.
“It’s a beautiful old Carnegie Building, and I had not been there for 20 years. So, I thought – you know what, I’m going to go to my childhood library. And walking up those steps into this very old, beautiful brick building, I was overwhelmed by how much I loved being in that space and how many memories I had of learning.”
His lifelong love of learning was developed in that library, and in his view, this love was central to his ability to be an effective leader.
“If I’m not learning, I’m actually not very happy…[When entering the library], I am reminded of being small again, a small child walking up to what I thought was a huge building, which in retrospect was not that big. But to me, it was gigantic. I just remembered I could find anything I ever wanted to learn about or listen to and that people at the library are not there to tell me what is good or bad but to help you find it.”
In the conversation with Paul, they discussed that to develop as a leader, you have to be a little uncomfortable:
“A good indicator of growth is being a bit uncomfortable. Our experience is designed to be as comfortable as possible in our society. But, I have found that you must be a little uncomfortable to evolve. I need to have something that challenges me…. I think that the more you learn, the more empathy you build in yourself and towards others,” said Kyle.
Paul replied:
“It reminds me of the red, yellow, and green zones model of learning. Where green is just…we’re in that productivity. It feels comfortable, almost too easy, and some complacency sets in. Yellow is that stretch zone that somebody wouldn’t call fun or comfortable, right? You have to put on a smile and say, “Alright, I’m going to go into this zone where I’m a little uncomfortable because I know I need to push myself with a challenge. And then, red zone, you don’t want to go there because that’s the burnout zone where you just freak out and go into a panic attack. So, we just need more yellow zone in our life.”
In episode 81 of the Tri-Cities Influencer Podcast, there were numerous insights like these, including:
Lesson 1: Empathy and Self Care are Essential Leadership Traits
Kyle emphasized the significance of empathy and self-care in effective leadership.
He shared how he learned to balance being directive during crises while nurturing genuine care and support for his team.
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of being kind to oneself to foster the capacity to be kind and empathetic towards others.
Lesson 2: Difficult Conversations and Growth
Kyle described how difficult conversations are an inevitable part of leadership.
Whether it’s providing constructive feedback or addressing challenging situations, leaders must be prepared to engage in honest dialogues with their team members.
To navigate these conversations effectively, leaders should prepare, practice, and focus on making things better, rather than just fixing problems.
Taking the time to understand the other person’s perspective and being mindful of emotions can lead to more productive outcomes.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear the full conversation with Paul and Kyle. Follow the link below to listen now and take your leadership journey forward!