NCG Experience: Daniela Satterwhite
Daniela Satterwhite had never managed a team and was promoted to a leadership position at Builders Mutual Insurance Company. As a new assistant underwriting manager, she was eager to learn leadership skills wherever she could to succeed in her new role. Luckily, her company's Learning & Development team recommended the NextGen Foundation for Effective Leadership program to help her bridge the knowledge gap.
Becoming a better listener
One of the first skills Daniela learned through the program was active listening. Harvard Business Review defines active listening as "Paying attention to both the explicit and implicit information that you're receiving in a conversation. Nonverbal cues, such as tone of voice, facial expression, and body language, are usually where the motivation and emotion behind the words is expressed." (Source)
A self-proclaimed extrovert, Daniela noted that leaders must learn how to listen. She has started applying her newly acquired listening skills, focusing on and actively taking in the nuance of conversations, which, she believes, has made a world of difference in how she communicates with people both inside and outside of her work environment.
When asked about the NextGen Leadership Program, Daniela shared her perspective with us:
"[The course] is absolutely instrumental to any up-and-coming leader because it offers a no-judgment zone. Everyone who is part of your cohort is in the same boat as you. Everyone is learning together."
Connecting with multifaceted leaders
Daniela also valued the program's intention to develop strong leadership through connection and understanding. She was surprised at the compassion, empathy, and success that manifests when you become a leader who is dedicated to listening and finding the most effective ways to guide people to do their best work.
"I work in the insurance industry and to me, all that exists is insurance people. And then the people in my cohort were very diverse."
As a participant, Daniela was provided a unique opportunity to meet and interact with professionals from all industries and business types. She valued the insights gained from those different perspectives and also from the realization that the issues she was grappling with weren't unique to insurance but were present across multiple businesses.
Leadership skills for work and life
When asked what advice she would offer other professionals, Daniela responded:
"My advice point blank is: do it because you don't have to have a title of leader to be a leader. You don't have to be a leader in the workplace to enroll in this program because it teaches how to be a leader in your home, community, and family. And it's all coming out of a place of love, empathy, and compassion. The world needs that right now."
If you're looking for a space to ask questions, open up, and share something without fear of judgment in your quest to become a better leader.
Learn more about the Foundation for Effective Leadership Program.