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Jayhawks in leadership positions are everywhere you look, including through the Jayhawk Career Network. KU Alumni, in partnership with SumnerOne, is highlighting Jayhawk leaders who are models for others in their industries with our “Copy the Leader” program.
What do you do in your work?
My role as Baseball Information & Communications Strategist with the Kansas City Royals is excitingly varied. I work in conjunction with different departments inside Royals’ Baseball Operations to impact both the Major League team and the Player Development Department. Most of my Major League duties involve extensive research and analysis to support the general manager, manager, as well as the pitching department. The Player Development role revolves around the creation and sharing of success stories, both on and off the field, with Royals fans and baseball fans in general.
What are the qualities of a good leader?
In my experience, a good leader challenges those above you on the employee flow chart and empowers those below you on the flow chart. A leader is consistent in their work output and processes. They are not afraid to entertain ideas, nor do they allow themselves to become complacent.
How do you practice leadership at your job?
My leadership currently derives from the ability to be creative and self-motivated and is largely displayed through producing items that are high-quality and reliable. By focusing on being approachable, it has provided other departments within the organization with the motivation to increase both the quality and productivity of their work.
What makes a team or group successful?
The team must build a high level of trust with each other and feel safe to share ideas and criticisms. If members of a team are hesitant to speak up when a situation calls for it, that group won’t function at its optimal capacity. The team that succeeds will be the team where all its members are 100% clear on their roles and what goals they are all working toward. Sometimes the best teams are the ones that figure out how to solve problems without involvement from leadership. Lastly, once those goals are achieved, the team members must feel valued and recognized.
How can leaders in your industry help their organizations adapt to change?
As mentioned above, the best way a leader can adapt to change is by creating trust and safety within their team. Change and our need to adapt to that change will be identified in different ways at different times by different people. So, the best way to get ahead of that change is to encourage those who identify change first to share their thoughts confidently with leadership. As these changes are instituted by the team, create a structure that allows for honest and immediate feedback from all members of the team. This should allow for continuous improvement and clarity as to how the team will face changes in the future.
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