We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Yolanda Roary. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Yolanda below.
Hi Yolanda , so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I have learned to be successful being the only African-American woman in the room by gleaning. Entering a room does not always mean speaking. I have learned how to watch and listen carefully. I ask myself who can I learn from, what are they doing effectively, and how can I help? I am a firm believer that your gift will make room for you. When it’s my time, I know it.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am Yolanda Roary, founder of Total Grace Consulting (Public Health Consulting Firm) and Elevate Coaching & Leadership Academy (Coaching & Leadership Certification).
As a consultant, I enjoy partnering with public health institutions as they authentically engage their community and discover the hidden power of people with lived experience and co-designing through change science.
At Elevate Coaching & Leadership Academy, I am the Master Coach. Leading coaches and faith based leaders through an extensive curriculum providing clarity, sustainability, education, and expertise.
Our self paced coaching certification is open for enrollment year round, the coaching and leadership certification is open in January and June.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The Most Important Qualities and/or Skills I have are Empathy, The Art of Listening, and Humility.
Empathy allow space for human connection, If see the “human first” when engaging others, we focus on their future, and how we can help them.
The Art of Listening….Mastering the Art of Listening takes time. When you can hear what’s not being said, you better understand the person, their intention, and what may be hindering them from becoming their best self. It is also an opportunity to replace judgement with growth.
Humility. When we walk in humility, it’s never about us, we see the bigger picture. We see the life of someone else and we see a new door of relationship.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I recently read, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, by Lori Gottileb. This book is full of life lessons. The one that stuck with me most were:
Change happens at the speed of Loss and The more we help others see themselves, the more we see ourselves.
Needless to say, both are self explanatory.
Contact Info:
- Website: elevatecoachingandleadership.com totalgraceconsulting.org
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolanda-roary-faith-based-coach-lived-experience-leader-coach-331508159/
