Growing into your leadership role with guest Christie Smith
Join me for episode 28 of The Accidental Leader in which I have an insightful conversation with Christie Smith, CEO of Acclaim Federal Credit Union in Greensboro, North Carolina! Christie shares her remarkable leadership journey over the past ten months, offering a raw and honest look into the unexpected challenges which she faced transitioning into her CEO role.
When Christie became CEO, she thought she was prepared, having been part of the succession plan for eight years, but she quickly realized the reality of leadership when she found herself dealing with day-to-day challenges, like fixing leaks, and understanding that she couldn't tackle everything alone. It took her a few months to grasp the significance of relying on her team, a truly humbling and valuable lesson in leadership.
Throughout our discussion, Christie candidly discusses the delicate balance between having a vision and working with a team whose approaches may differ from her own. She's learned the importance of listening, a skill that did not come naturally to her as an extrovert yet one which she now understands is vital to leading effectively.
We also dive into the struggles and growth associated with accountability and setting expectations, and Christie reflects on her journey through burnout and the critical shift from doing everything herself to trusting and delegating tasks to her team.
As Christie shares her plans for Acclaim, she emphasizes the power of trust, accountability, and setting clear expectations for the future. Her reflections on defining excellence vs. perfection are especially thought-provoking, revealing her commitment to supporting her team's growth.
Tune in for honesty, reflection, and insights into the complexities of leadership and the journey of personal growth. Christie's story is not only a lesson for aspiring leaders but also an inspiring tale of commitment to making a positive impact on her credit union and its members!
Time Stamps:
[2:51] Christie shares how she wasn't fully prepared for the CEO role and needed her team.
[5:55] I acknowledge being task-oriented and sometimes overlooking the need for teamwork.
[6:36] Hear how Christie learned to listen to her team, finding that they often have better ideas.
[8:53] Burnout taught Christie to trust and delegate to her team for better outcomes.
[10:41] I reveal how trust and setting clear expectations helped me see team success beyond just my own methods.
[12:05] Christie believes in failing forward to encourage progress and learning despite setbacks.
[14:15] Trust and accountability are essential goals for Christie's team's success by 2025.
[16:35] Christie emphasizes the need for excellence and accountability in the credit union's work.
[18:55] I touch upon how, inspired by flat leadership, my team now self-leads and is held accountable.
[21:14] Defining "quality" helped unify my team, improving standards and encouraging excellence.
[22:16] Christie distinguishes between perfection and excellence, supporting personal career choices.
[25:03] Learning from mistakes, Christie aims to be a confident yet balanced leader.
[28:30] We learn that Christie would prioritize setting boundaries if transitioning to CEO again.
[30:49] Effective communication helps Christie manage team changes and foster growth.
[33:47] Christie believes that trust and clear communication are necessary for member relationships.
[35:37] Christie learned valuable leadership lessons from both difficult and good leaders.
[37:41] Accepting failure as part of growth is vital for leadership success.
Resources:
The Accidental Leader - Website
Acclaim Federal Credit Union on LinkedIn
Acclaim Federal Credit Union - Website
Robert M. Pirsig - Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values
