Page 43 - The EDGE Winter 2025

employees are treated well, they become less likely I don’t share this story to tell you about his injury, but
to seek employment elsewhere, resulting in reduced to highlight what made Brian so special. The entire
turnover and a more stable workforce. This approach time, despite the pain, he was laughing—at himself,
benefits the organization in terms of continuity at us, at the situation. Many of you saw him at the
and expertise retention. It contributes to a positive Annual Conference, navigating with crutches, but that
reputation as an employer of choice, attracting top moment captured who he was. Even in discomfort,
talent and bolstering the organization’s standing even in challenge, Brian found a way to smile."
among peer organizations. -Audrey Amrhein, AASBO
-Brian L. Mee, SFO, RSBA, M.Ed.

Ref lections on Leadership

June 10, 2024
"The Truth is that teamwork is at the heart of great
achievement." -John C. Maxwell
The sentiment in John Maxwell’s quote underscores
the undeniable power of team collaboration in
driving success. It recognizes that while individual
brilliance can spark innovation, the collective
effort, the synergy of multiple minds working
together, propels organizations and individuals to
unprecedented heights. Great achievements are not
solitary endeavors but rather the culmination of
shared vision, coordinated action, and the harnessing

"As I put together this tribute to Brian and read of diverse perspectives, fostering a sense of belonging
through all the submissions, a clear picture emerges and connection to the team and its goals.
of the person he was—his deep love for others, This is where the role of a great leader becomes
his dedication to his work, and his unwavering paramount. A genuinely impactful leader understands
faith in God. I could list all the wonderful things that when individuals come together and share their
about him, but the voices in this book say it best, diverse perspectives, skills, and knowledge, they
coming from those who were blessed to know him. create results that transcend the sum of their parts.
Instead, I’d like to share a short story from this This shared effort fosters creativity, problem-solving,
past summer. In the final days of preparation for and a sense of collective ownership, leading to
the Annual Conference, Katie and I were hard solutions and outcomes that would be impossible to
at work when we heard some loud clomping achieve alone.
from Brian’s office. Moments later, he hobbled This teamwork process cultivates trust,
out, admitting he needed help getting to his car. communication, and mutual respect, forging strong
He had twisted his knee on the stairs, and in no bonds that inspire commitment and dedication.
time, it had swollen so much he couldn’t bend it. Fostering a teamwork culture is not simply about
At the time, I was very pregnant, and Katie assigning tasks and expecting results but building
couldn’t carry him alone. So, we improvised— trust, encouraging, and empowering team members
grabbing a rolling chair from the conference to contribute their unique talents. They cultivate
room, carefully loading him up, and rolling a sense of shared responsibility, where success is
him down to the elevator and out to his car. not measured by individual glory but by collective
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