Since graduating from college fifteen years ago, I have enjoyed unexpected success.

The proof:

As a leader and fundraiser, my teams and I smashed through success rates in donor retention, total and annual revenue, and participation in giving.

We closed out capital campaigns and giving challenges. We increased one annual fund sustainably by more than 30 percent.

Personally, I’ve earned seven prestigious awards, served as a speaker at more than 30 conferences nation-wide, and published two books with a third on the way.

I served as a volunteer or board member in nearly a dozen different roles, launched two small businesses, was made an Executive Director before 35, and Vice President before 40.

So what?:

I’m not bragging. In fact, I feel silly sharing that, but it matters because statistically, it should not have happened. In fact, the only reason that stuff matters is because it paints a picture of overcoming odds.

I was classified at-risk in middle school. My family fell below the poverty line. I faced several emotionally-debilitating challenges in my youth. I only went to college because I had a very persistent guidance counselor who steered me toward the Higher Education Opportunity Program. Once in, people went above and beyond to ensure I graduated.

I’ve seen the statistics play out. Many of my early peers are still stuck in poverty or grappling with addiction. Some have died or landed in jail. Education is certainly the great equalizer but what we do with that education matters. How we live out our leadership through our professional lives determines how far we can go.

The secret to success:

So how does one go from at-risk to successful professional? (Personally, I credit faith first and foremost, but what else?) There are a multitude of ingredients but the two most important words are this: humility and collaboration. I believe these two behaviors underline every win I ever experienced.

When we are born onto this earth we know nothing in terms of learned information – not a single word. This earth is a foreign place. I’ll never forget bumping into my brother-in-law Tim at the store. His infant son Gage sat in the car seat in the cart. The entire time Tim and I talked Gage stared intently at my lips. I could see his brain working as he watched us form words. He was learning language right before my very eyes.

Somewhere along the line, we risk devaluing the learning process. Every effort should begin as Gage did – watching, learning, assessing, absorbing. At the root of learning is humility. I know some things but not everything. From a place of humility, I open myself up to the information around me. I see and hear things differently. I value differing opinions. I am receptive to input which allows me to grow and expand my understanding. Just like Gage had to learn before he could speak, as professionals we must learn before we can act.

Collaboration – my second favorite word. Studies show that companies with diverse leadership teams and boards are more successful and experience higher revenues. Diversity of perspectives and skill sets leads to a more well-rounded operation. I can only accomplish so much on my own. As we draw others in, we expand our capability. We also bring new and important information to bear on the challenges we face. Other staff members, departments, community members, age groups, cultures – all of these can lead to better solutions than those created in a vacuum.

What it all means:

Fifteen years ago, I was an insecure, broken person with absolutely no thought about my future except that I liked to write. Today, my life has purpose, meaning, and impact. I am so grateful for the path laid out in front of me and those who led the way, and I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that leading from a place of humility and inviting other voices in to the process opens possibilities beyond our imagination. In fact, I dare say some of our world’s biggest challenges can be overcome using the formula of humility and collaboration.

In his text The Orbital Perspective: Lessons in Seeing the Big Picture from a Journey of 71 Million Miles, astronaut Ron Garan said, “A partner’s different perspective is valuable, but the very fact that it is different means that it will require work, humility, time, and resources to incorporate that perspective. At times, this will require checking one’s pride at the door.”

Collaboration and humility are hard work but when enacted, change lives and communities.

As a college Vice President and successful entrepreneur, I have received and conducted my fair share of evaluations. Early in my career, as the recipient, I remember sweaty palms, unasked questions, elation over good marks, and deflation over low ones. Most years, we never discussed the evaluation again, after it was given.

Giving an evaluation can be equally stressful. No one ever taught me how to give a good evaluation in a behavioral sense. I’ve been trained on the tool, but not the rich and powerful philosophy behind it or how to use it to coach, motivate, inspire, and LEAD!

Most recently, my organization underwent a significant design process for evaluations and realigning job grades. Simultaneously, I hired several key positions and conducted evaluations of my direct reports. In the midst of it, the team debated the value of merit pay versus other rewards.

After long and bountiful conversations with my employees, colleagues, and HR professionals, I am convinced more than ever that evaluation processes harness transformative power for the individual, team, and organization. Monetary rewards pale in comparison as a motivating factor.

Done correctly, evaluations lay the ground work for:

• Working through performance deficiencies through coaching
• Growing a person’s natural gifts into powerful strengths
• Moving people into new positions or letting someone go if their abilities or desires no longer align with the organization’s needs
• Creating a linear career mobility map for driven employees, through internal promotion or preparation for the next career step
• Setting and reviewing goals and metrics

The million dollar questions are “What does that look like,” or “How do I have those conversations.” Theory is great. Sit me in a room with a nervous employee who has done some tasks really well and others poorly and suddenly theory flies out the window.

I propose a simple process.

1. Keep notes throughout the year – things done well and things that can improve. Jot them on a post-it note when they happen and put them in a file.
2. Pre-evaluation, have the employee fill out the document and give it to you so you can see where their head is at. Look for accomplishments they care about which you may have forgotten.
3. Use both your notes and the employee’s self-evaluation to complete the form and be honest in your assessment.
4. Take ten minutes before going through the evaluation and talk with the employee about your personal approach to the numbers.

My personal take, if you are using a four level grade system (excellent, as expected, needs improvement, unacceptable), is this:

1. Excellence happens when a person’s innate gifts come into play and as a result, they truly shine. I can’t be excellent at everything and that’s okay. Learning what I’m great at will help me develop natural abilities into powerful strengths. In life, we may be excellent at a couple key things. The same is true in an evaluation. Talk with your employee about their gifts and how to grow them. Make a big deal out of it!
2. “As expected” means doing your job. Did you accomplish the tasks on your job description? Great! Experience tells me that most tasks fall into this category. Here’s an example. The quarterback on a football team is typically excellent at strategy and passing or throwing the football. He may perform “as expected” when it comes to offense, defense, and running, for example.
3. “Needs improvement” reveals areas of weakness. We all have them. It’s okay! These items present opportunities for self-awareness, skill improvement, and to grow as a person. I believe I’ve been successful because I'm receptive to my deficiencies. I can choose to improve. I can surround myself with support systems and people who supplement my weaknesses. It’s important to emphasize to employees that we all need improvement and devise a plan.
4. Unacceptable should be no surprise on a job evaluation. If an issue rises to the level of being unacceptable it should have been discussed when it occurred. In the evaluation you can reiterate the plan, note improvement, or discuss next steps. If the employee continues to perform in an unacceptable manner, you may even set a deadline for improvement.

None of these conversations need to be emotional for the person delivering the evaluation. Be fair but clear and concise. Celebrate strengths. Set expectations and accountability measures. Plan for growth.

When it’s finished, take a look at the evaluation prior to your one-on-one’s with direct reports and be ready to talk through the plans you made. Give performance updates throughout the year and solicit feedback from the employee. As a result of processes like this, I’ve worked through very difficult conversations. I’ve also watched some team members blossom into their best selves. As a result, their careers took off! What a fulfilling and exciting experience for a leader.

Working in higher education has its perks. One perk I have become immensely grateful for is lifelong learning.  Last week my institution sent me to an Advancement Roundtable at LaGrange College in Georgia for vice presidents of development. I learned a lot in three days! Here are five leadership insights worth sharing from top professionals in the field.

1.       I am a steward of resources. I am a guard of morale.

While discussing the challenges of leading teams, Dr. Joe Watkins, Vice President for External Relations at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA, made this astute observation and I couldn’t agree more! We come across all kinds of people challenges at work and it’s easy to get lost in the gray area. As leaders, we must remember, we partnered with our employer toward a shared vision. It’s our job to ensure the resources we steward – financial, capital and human – are aligned most effectively toward that aim. We will come across good people who simply need help and others who are unable or unwilling to grow. In the midst of those challenges, we are guardians of morale. Drops come unexpectedly. We must be ever vigilant in identifying those painful slivers under the surface and addressing them quickly. In doing so, we keep all eyes forward.

2.       Our grief over anticipated problems can steal the joy of the day.

This piece of wisdom came from Jim Casky, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Goshen College in Indiana, during his morning “centering moment.” This insight applies to life and leadership. Simplified: Don’t borrow trouble. We have enough problems to solve today. That’s not to say we shouldn’t consider possible outcomes and prepare, but we mustn’t pain over the possibilities. One of my favorite books as a twenty-something was the Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler. They talked about the trap of negative emotions. His holiness said that when we act on negative emotions like fear or anxiety, we often cause the outcome we are trying to avoid. Be a wise planner and an astute observer, but do not give your joy away to unnecessary grief.

3.       Coach up or out.

I loved Terry Toler’s view on coaching. As the Vice President for University Advancement and Church Relations at Southern Nazarene University, Terry views his team of fundraisers as development’s version of the Navy Seals. “We need high performers,” he said, “and not everyone can make the cut. Sometimes you have to coach up or coach out.” Fifteen years into my profession and more than a decade of leadership experience tells me Terry is spot on. Everyone deserves an opportunity to be led – to be grown. A good leader uses the evaluation process to spot deficiencies, bring attention to them, and begin the work of coach. Some team members will take the opportunity and accomplish things they never thought possible. Others will resist and eventually come around. Some outright refuse. We can’t afford to leave people in positions for years who aren’t willing to work hard to meet shared objectives, but rather invest our time into those who can.

4.       What is the institution’s story? How will your chapter read?

Dr. Vance Peterson is a former vice president and college president who now serves as a consultant for AGB Search. Dr. Peterson spoke about the transition from vice president to president and how one prepares. Among his suggestions was this piece of brilliance, “What will your chapter be in the life story of the institution?” I think back to my time as Executive Director of Development at Houghton College. I was a mid-manager working hard with passion. What was our chapter? Well, our team hit all-time highs in the annual fund and total giving. We launched a sustainable county-wide leadership development program and graduated almost 60 people. We rebranded our giving societies, started faculty and staff campaigns, and spearheaded a comprehensive major gift program. It was crazy and amazing! I’m proud of that chapter and plan to write one just as cool as the VP at Trocaire College. Our chapters should never be dull and uninspiring!

5.       Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.

Okay, this one didn’t come from one of the attendees. Do you recognize it? This jewel is straight from Mahatma Gandhi. During lunch on the second day of the conference, I found a little scroll tied with a red ribbon at my plate. I opened it and Ghandi’s words were typed on the paper. How perfect! As a passionate leader, a hard worker, and a believer in civic engagement at every level of the organization and community – this one hit home. One of my greatest assets as a leader is being a sponge and learning as much as I can every day. This is also something I highly value in my team members. But learning is not enough. We must act with urgency if we are to make a significant impact on our community and the people we serve. After all, we are on this earth but for a fleeting moment. Live and work well!

Turning ideas into effective action can stump even the best minds in business, but may be the secret to success.

My friend and inspirational entrepreneur Kent Stroman (Institute for Conversational Fundraising) pointed this out to me recently and he’s right. When I recall my greatest career wins, they included:

An urgent problem
Inspiration
Study
Strategy
Action

Essayist and psychologist Og Mandino said, “Opportunities, many times, are so small that we glimpse them not and yet they are often the seeds of great enterprises.”

How many seeds – how many great ideas - fall on rocky ground? Are choked out by the weeds or burnt in the sun? The ones that are nourished we know very well. The internet. Social media. Cars. Airplanes. Heart transplants. Saxophones. Paper from tree bark. Astounding!

Mandino continues, “Opportunities are also everywhere and so you must always let your hook be hanging. When you least expect it, a great fish will swim by.”

I have caught a few fish in my fifteen years on the job.

A 35 percent increase in annual fund revenue. The launch of a life-changing leadership development program. Publishing my first novel.  Teaching my ADHD-daughter to value her gifts despite the world’s feedback. Speaking in front of an auditorium full of at-risk youth about overcoming brokenness.

Big fish. But they did not leap on the hook. I had to catch them. When Mandino says always let your hook be hanging, maybe he meant keep your eyes open for the urgent problems. Constantly scan the waters. Put yourself in new ponds. Seek out challenges. Then, when the fish swims by, reel it in.

The work that follows is never easy. As professionals and people of potential impact in this world, we have a difficult job in front of us. Inspiration becomes our motivation. Look for the reason behind the effort. Why should we catch that fish? What difference does it make?

Then, study and strategize. Be a life-long learner. Explore the options. Seek solutions from experts because none of us are experts in everything. Find the little pieces of gold in the stream, sift them out, and put them in a plan.

Action becomes the easy part because the hard work is done.

There is no guarantee that every fish we catch, every case we make, or every strategy we write will lead to the next big idea – but some will. The ones that take root and grow have the potential to change lives, communities, and even the world. For that, it is worth the effort.

Pamela Witter is the founder and owner of Seed Planters, an author, professional fundraiser and speaker. Learn more at www.BeASeedPlanter.com. Find her on Facebook at Seed Planters.

"Communication with constituents and customers in the digital age is a piece of cake", said no small business owner ever. Managing conversations with large populations while juggling life, a full-time job, and a small business is a daunting task, even for the most driven among us.

At a recent conference, two communication experts shared industry insights to create buzz around your product. Jason Jones, Senior Publicist for PR By The Book, and Jenn Depaula, Co-Owner of Mixtus Media, discussed PR and marketing for the practitioner. I strongly suggest connecting with them. 

Here is my take on implementing a practical social media strategy for a small businesses. First, let's look at the numbers.

You wake up at 6:00 a.m. and cease functioning at 10:00 p.m. You have 16 hours in the day. You work full-time. That's 8 hours on the job. You have a family. It takes 2-4 hours to get people ready for school and bed, feed them, and tend to details. You spend 1-2 hours driving to work, errands, and family functions. Eliminating any leisure activities, you are left with 2-4 hours in your day. Your small business easily absorbs that time. How do you manage a beneficial online presence?

1. Write a plan.

Your website is your hub; your home online. It should be a source of information and a machine to drive social media. Planning your site is essential. I have two published books and one pending - each on a different topic. With a diverse product line, how do I create an all-encompassing site? First, define your brand. My brand is Seed Planters where we grow people and communities. Second, create categories. I have three: growing people and teams through leadership training, growing communities through non-profit fundraising, and growing individuals through faith and healing. Finally, plug in your products. I sort my books, keynotes, and workshop topics into those three categories. After you chart out your brand, categories, and products, design your site. Sometimes its easier to begin at the end. Look at your products and seek a common thread. The thread becomes your brand.

2. Write a blog.

Somewhere on your site, you need a blog. Offer helpful information in your area of expertise. Use each blog to highlight your brand, categories, and products. Study strategies for effective blogging. It's not the same as writing for other mediums. If you can't blog, hire a freelance blogger or intern to do it for you.

3. Affiliate your site with social media and SHARE.

Disclaimer: I'm new at this. Maybe that's a good thing. Once a week, I write a blog then share it across mediums. A link on Facebook. A post on LinkedIn. A teaser on Twitter. I may add more mediums later. I continue to share other information and build my audience through networking, but the blog drives new traffic.

So, what now? You can do this! Chart out your web site and grow complimentary pages through social media. It took me 6 hours on a Saturday to plot my strategy, build my site on Weebly, and streamline my media, then an hour or two once a week writing posts and sharing info. It feels manageable. Start today!

Pamela Witter is the founder and owner of Seed Planters, an author, professional fundraiser and speaker. Learn more at www.BeASeedPlanter.com. Find her on Facebook at Seed Planters.