Intentional Leadership Could Change the World
State Senator La Tonya Johnson poses with graduates of the Findley Foundation Program.
As the owner of Midwest Construction & Management Services in Milwaukee, Stephanie Deena Findley recognized the key challenge facing her firm: a shortage of competent people in the workforce pipeline.
She took action in 2017 to resolve the problem by creating the Findley Foundation, a nonprofit organization that proactively helps people become employable by improving their basic reading, writing and math capabilities, as well as developing many of the “soft skills” needed in the workforce.
“We serve our community by leveling the playing field to uplift, inspire and empower individuals in need of economic opportunities in education, supportive services, workforce training, health and mental health services to ensure individuals are healthy, healed and whole,” Findley said.
The Findley Foundation helped 17 graduates of its program find careers in the construction industry in 2018 and another 16 graduates in 2019. Along the way, the foundation also found new homes for six families that were homeless.
“If you see something that is not right, it is on us as leaders to make it right,” Findley said.
Findley is a fierce devotee of the concept of intentional leadership, which is defined as “an approach that aligns desired outcomes, core values and fundamental purpose for a significant increase in results,” according to the Center for Intentional Leadership in Charlotte, N.C.
“Intentional Leadership is vitally important due to the current social and economic situations happening across the world. We need individuals who are willing to step up and lead at this critical point in history to provide the people with the resources needed to be a better, just society for all,” Findley said.
I asked Findley to share seven tactics an intentional leader can deploy to make positive changes in the world:
Be transformational. “The best thing a person can do is transform the lives and culture of the people they serve,” Findley said.
Be a risk-taker. “The worst thing in the world is a leader who is too afraid to leap because he or she will lose relationships or money. The worst kind of leader is someone who straddles the fence and refuses to take a side to protect someone's feelings,” Findley said.
Be proactive. “Anticipate the pros and cons of a situation. It gives you insight on how to navigate through and around hiccups as they happen,” Findley said.
Cultivate the discipline of intentionality. “Make sure you spend some time alone to nurture yourself in order to stay focused and renew your commitment to being intentional,” Findley said.
Take responsibility for mistakes. “The worst kind of leader is one who refuses to acknowledge a mistake was made. Own it, acknowledge it, repair it and learn from it. Leadership starts at the top,” Findley said.
Stretch your comfort zone. “In order to lead, you must be willing to step up to the plate and into the abyss of the unknown. It's a very uncomfortable place, but the stretch is well worth it,” Findley said.
Be aware of your influence. “Leadership requires you to be aware of your surroundings and the people who are connected to your different walks of life. Whether you know it or not, someone is always watching and waiting to see what you're going to do next.
Name: Stephanie Deena Findley
Title: Owner of Midwest Construction & Management Services and founder and board vice-chair of the Findley Foundation.
Education: Master’s degree in business management from Cardinal Stritch University; bachelor’s of science degree in criminal justice management from Concordia University of Wisconsin; and honorary doctorate in counseling from the Los Angeles Development Institute
Family: Daughter Shaleta, and a cat named Tiger
Favorite movie: The Wiz
Favorite musical acts: Boney James, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson
Favorite Wisconsin restaurant: Terri Lynn’s Soul Food Express, Milwaukee
