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Below are key insights and actionable takeaways from our conversation.
Key Takeaways
The Work Behind the Work Matters
Great client experiences don’t happen because of marketing alone. They depend on the systems, people, processes, and decisions happening behind the scenes. Shayla explains that operations can have a direct impact on whether clients are happy, whether they stay, and whether they refer others.
Relationships Come Before Results
When Shayla enters a new organization, she doesn’t immediately arrive with an agenda. She takes the time to learn people, understand what matters to them, and build genuine relationships. For her, trust creates the foundation that makes future change possible.
Grit Is About Finding Another Way
Shayla’s story about tracking down a replacement Starbucks blender at another Target store may sound small, but it captures how she approaches problems. When something needs to get done, “that’s not an option” isn’t the end of the conversation. She looks for another way forward.
Leadership Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
Managing seven name partners means managing seven different personalities, perspectives, experiences, and priorities. Shayla emphasizes the importance of understanding how different people communicate and adjusting your leadership style accordingly.
Know What You’re Actually Trying to Achieve
One of the strongest lessons from the conversation is that effort doesn’t automatically equal results. Before jumping into action, leaders need to understand the desired outcome, the organization’s priorities, and what success actually looks like.
You Don’t Have to Know Everything
Shayla doesn’t pretend to have every answer. She knows her strengths, recognizes where she needs additional expertise, and isn’t afraid to say she’ll find the answer and circle back. Leadership, in her view, requires curiosity as much as confidence.
Give Yourself Some Grace
Even highly accomplished leaders have seasons when they need to slow down. Shayla reflects on the importance of recognizing how far you’ve come rather than constantly focusing on what still needs to be accomplished.
Quotes from Shayla:
“People don’t just work for companies, they also work for people.”
“Before I have an ax, I’m going to build a foundation with you.”
“I don’t know everything all the time. I will find out.”
“You can do it. It’s just you may have to do it differently.”
“Effort doesn’t necessarily equal results if you don’t know what the result is supposed to be.”
Looking Ahead
Shayla’s Advice for Leaders, Professionals, and Anyone Growing Their Career
- Build relationships before making changes. — Get to know the people around you, listen to them, and understand what matters before walking into a new role with an agenda.
- Listen to people at every level. — Staff often see and know more than leaders realize. Making space for their perspectives can give you the information you need to make better decisions.
- Know what you’re actually trying to achieve. — Effort doesn’t always equal results. Before jumping into action, understand the goal, what matters most, and what success should look like.
- Learn to navigate different personalities. — Leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all. Understanding how different people communicate and adjusting your approach can make it easier to find common ground.
- Be willing to figure it out. — You won’t always have the answer, and that’s okay. Know your strengths, ask for help when you need it, and be willing to find another way forward.
- Give yourself some grace. — You don’t have to be the perfect leader, parent, or professional all the time. Recognize how far you’ve come and remember that different seasons call for different things.
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