We recently connected with Aaron Lee and have shared our conversation below.
Aaron, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
I aim to live by 3 simple words: secure, humble and confident.
The challenge for me is I want to over-index on the confidence. I want to push how much I know, what I’ve experienced, and tell a great story.
In my work with B-SPOKE founder Jim H. Lee, I have consistently found myself in the room as the only non-Asian. And Jim has most graciously invited me in to speak on the perspective of being an ally.
When I consider being an ally, I walk in curious. I push myself to listen and calibrate my secure, confident humility. I am not pushing. I am asking questions.
We developed an image of a bridge to describe the power of allyship. You must build a bridge when you are the only person in the room who looks like you. True bridge-building requires us each to step off our side and meet in the middle.
This is counter to how we are all wired. Our brains push us to believe our way is the best, right way. With humility, we need to resist this push.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My career put me in close contact with a wide array of organizations and leaders. I led staff and volunteers to rebuild communities in the aftermath and chaos of natural disasters, I directed organizations through leadership transitions, and I forged my own path as a leader.
Over the years, I watched bosses who hesitated to give constructive feedback and struggled to take themselves or the team to the next level, I saw team members who resisted collaborating, I saw teams more focused on drama and doing as little as possible, and I encountered entire organizations who had the potential of reaching the stars but would breed hostility and couldn’t get off the starting block. I saw all of these traits taking root in myself, too, and I realized none of these experiences were unique.
My trailblazing, future-oriented perspective inspired in me the belief we could all do better. I wanted to be part of the solution.
Our agency builds leaders worth following. Too many of our bosses are people we have to follow, but we believe there is a different way. We work with leaders and teams in big and small organizations. I bring a breath of fresh air, taking teams off the defensive with simple tools, clear, objective language, and a people system to make the most of their team’s potential.
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?
1. Understand your unique leadership voice: knowing yourself will allow you to lead others more effectively. I spent too long not knowing enough about my own tendencies. 2. Learn the basics of finance: ideas won’t get you anywhere without a budget. Find a way – or find someone – to build a strong financial foundation for your work.
3. Stay level when crisis hits:
When I was 4, my house burned down. After 9/11, I felt the urge to respond and serve. The same after Hurricane Katrina. Eventually my career path and disasters intersected professionally.
What I learned in crisis is the most prepared, level-headed leader wins. Not in a wins-and-losses kind of way, but the level-headed leader is standing strong afterward.
During a crisis, you see the best — and worst — of humanity. The truth is, we’re facing more and more crises every day. Some large, many are small, and others are world-changing. Understanding your unique superpower will allow you to bring your best — and the best of others — in a moment of crisis.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
Our team has focused relentlessly on this question, and we landed on this:
We want clients who believe in a Bigger Future.
Our clients become friends, and we are truly fighting for their highest possible good. We believe in their work, and — most importantly — they believe in their work.
These leaders and businesses aren’t satisfied with the status quo, but they also aren’t building fast and quick for appearances. They want to build a solid foundation and set their business up for long-term success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://leadersrisingnetwork.com/100
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leaders-rising/
- Other: Podcast: https://newgenerationleader.fm
Image Credits
Black Frame Photos
