Sara Orellana
By Sara Orellana
Over the years, I have spent a lot of time writing about leadership. Unfortunately, it seems like more of what I wrote was what not to do than what to do. Today, I would like to tell you a few stories about great leaders who positively impacted my life and the lessons I learned from them.
Granting people a second chance
Many people won’t give you a second chance, especially when the second chance is after you were in jail, but Debbie Cagles was a ball of fire in high heels.
Successfully managing and growing her family business, in Ontario, California, Debbie looked past mistakes and saw your true potential. As an impressionable 15-year-old who had just moved back to the U.S., I needed her positivity. She taught me to work hard, that no job was beneath me, and to always look at the bigger picture. People make mistakes, but they are not defined by their mistakes. Because of her, I have learned to see where people come from, appreciate their strengths and what they bring to the table, and give them a fresh start.
Challenge good employees to become great employees
I fell into my first professional job. After college I bounced around from job to job not sure what I wanted to do. After a few mistakes and a few hard-learned lessons, I fell into the nonprofit world, and I loved it!
I loved the challenges with working in programming. I wanted to do a good job, and I asked my boss how I could be better. She looked at me and told me I had gone as far as I could go without more education. I looked right back at her and told her I didn’t know how to go to grad school. I was a first-generation college student and a first-generation American. She took that as a yes from me, and helped me every step of the way. Because of her I have two postgraduate degrees and have learned the value of investing in good employees.
Believe in your staff;
they will amaze you
In the early days of my career I stumbled a lot. I didn’t have a mentor to guide me. That’s when John Earl Thompson, my supervisor at The Children’s Shelter in Ardmore, found me. A former middle school principal, he saw my potential and realized I needed a mentor to guide me.
About 15 years ago, John recruited me to his team, taught me to listen, to stretch myself, and to think outside the box. Because he took a chance on me and believed in me, I had the opportunity to change my life and find a career I loved. From that moment on, I promised myself I would always believe in my staff.
These three lessons defined me as a leader more than all the classes I took and books I read. They laid the foundation for who I would become as a leader, entrepreneur, and parent. Strong foundations based on the simple, basic principles of life will help you find your style so you can lead with authenticity. Leadership is not fancy. It shouldn’t be. Leadership is simple and uncomplicated. More than anything it’s the ability to guide someone into becoming the best version of themselves.
Sara Orellana, MS, MPH is an independent entrepreneur who specializes in strategic planning, leadership, and grant writing. She can be reached at sara@3raptorconsulting.com.