With Gratitude

I have written in previous blogs about the critical role that gratitude plays in deServing Leadership. I have also talked about deServing Leadership not just being about managing others but about serving others, and therefore being applicable to everyone in an organization. Today’s blog is my ode to the EVENTEQ team for truly exemplifying deServing Leadership in recent times.

COVID’s disastrous impact on the live events industry, tremendous job losses, salary reductions, and no predictable end in sight, has left all of us in a deep sense of shock. Despite the profound emotional and mental anguish, the EVENTEQ team pivoted and is focused on our singular mission to bring everyone back as quickly as possible. Thanks to their relentless efforts, next week, we start re-building our team.

Here are a few key highlights:

Prepared enough to be spontaneous: Sometimes, too much process can stifle creativity or innovation. Our team spontaneously conceived solutions to problems that the market didn’t know existed at the time. In just a few short weeks, the team has developed industry-leading virtual event solutions, designed sit/stand desks, custom printed corn hole sets, and COVID related safety and signage solutions.

Being great while being humble: Every day, I notice our team working long hours to help our clients pivot to virtual solutions while adapting and learning. Without pride, their tireless efforts and putting the team’s success ahead of their own have positioned us to begin the process of bringing our team back to work.

Compassionate enough to be disciplined: One of the things I am proudest of is how gracious everyone is. But achieving such incredible results isn’t done without discipline. Despite the high emotional and mental anguish, our team sets high standards for themselves and others and follows through on them.

Confidence to admit what they don’t know: The transition of adding software-as-a-service solutions to our portfolio has not been without challenges, but the entire team has shown the confidence to adapt and learn quickly. This is only possible due to their humility and being accountable enough to understand and accept what we didn’t know.

Busy and productive enough to make time and listen: At the core of deServing Leadership is empathy and human interaction above all else. While I have been guilty of overlooking this sometimes in recent months, our team’s focus on supporting each other has been quite humbling.

Drive each other by meeting their needs: Perhaps the highest priority for a deServing Leader is the commitment to the growth of other’s personal and professional development. Our team has taken a personal interest in everyone’s ideas and suggestions, encouraging employee involvement by sharing authority and decision-making.

I am grateful to our team for being humble, confident, focused, authentic, and accountable to our clients and, most importantly, each other. Finally, I am blessed to be a small part of this incredible team of deServing Leaders!