The Power of Personal Stories Revealed in County Leadership Program
Authentic Leadership was the focus of Sauk County institute of Leadership (SCIL) during their December meeting at Compeer Financial in Prairie du Sac. Who we are as a leader begins with who we are as a person and participants explored aspects of leadership that are seldom found on a checklist.
The day began with an inspirational presentation from Travis Hillard, Sauk Prairie School District Safety Coordinator. Hilliard is a retired Sauk-Prairie police lieutenant and he shared that we never know what battles people are facing. “Empathy, kindness and compassion towards others aren’t often talked about as leadership traits, yet they are vitally important,” he said. “You never know what chapter of someone else’s book you are reading when you encounter them.”
The group was invited to consider and share their “crucible stories,” experiences on their life paths that changed their direction. University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension educator and SCIL facilitator Morgan McArthur said “Our biggest challenges often yield our biggest changes. Navigating personal difficulty may be hard but it forms good leaders who are real and relatable.” Participants told of their experiences with struggle, learning, triumph and resilience. The power of their personal stories showed these leaders to be human and inspiring.
After lunch the group learned Improv techniques and how they relate to leadership, as taught by Waupaca County UW-Extension Community Development Educator Jessica Beckendorf. Jessica led the group through a series of improvisational theatre exercises and showed them the powerful technique of leading with an attitude of “Yes, and…” Beckendorf emphasized that Authentic Leadership often requires the ability to pivot. The Improv exercises taught skills that help leaders respond positively in the moment.
Karen DeSanto wrapped up the day with her own story of authentic leadership. DeSanto is award-winning CEO of Boys and Girls Club of West Central Wisconsin. Karen taught that while her life might look like the proverbial circus, it’s more than just fun and games. She shared her own pivotal moment from working in Sacramento, California to making the trek to Baraboo Wisconsin, where she would attend the Ringling Brothers’ clown college. She later joined the circus and saw the world as a professional clown. After years of “clowning around,” and raising her daughter, she retired from the circus, settled in Baraboo and eventually became the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club. Her final message was to not give up, and to go after your dreams. “Even if that means you will end up being a clown for half your life.”
The group came away from this day realizing that their stories give them leadership credentials that they may not have realized that they had. The school of hard knocks is for real.
Written by Angela Witczak and Mark Ladsten
