Sue Covelli-Buntley and Poyee Chiu of UpSpiral Leadership interview Anne Hunnex. She has had a long and successful career transforming the work culture of numerous organizations. As a firm believer in leadership development, Anne also serves as the Leadership Forum Community’s treasurer even in her retirement.

[00:31] Introducing Anne Hunnex

[03:25] Anne’s Passion for Creating Change

[10:00] Finding Your Voice and Using It for Good

[15:32] Getting Things Done with Empathy and Kindness

[19:12] How to Create Leadership Opportunities for Others

[22:26] Discovering other People’s Strengths & Purpose

[24:45] Waterfall to Agile IT Transformation

[26:37] Lightning Round: A Series of Brief Questions

[33:42] The Flip: “It is Too Late to Invest in Leadership Development”

[36:28] Leadership Forum Summit

Early on in Anne’s career, she experienced firsthand how some work environments can be so damaging. She recalls how she had to deal with a leader who often berated the other employees. Because this leader had so much experience and expertise, nobody dared to speak out against her. Instead of turning a blind eye, Anne approached human resources regarding her abusive actions. HR set up a meeting for them and provided counseling to correct the leader’s destructive behavior.

Anne’s act of courage helped strengthen the bond between her and her team because she had their back and was willing to advocate for them. At this moment, Anne realized that her voice could indeed make a difference. It wasn’t long before the other employees started becoming more outspoken in the workplace.

Anne also learned from this experience how to address the undesired behavior. To truly change behavior, you need to get to the root cause. After identifying the reason for it, assess if you can do anything to address it. Seeking to understand others is the first step to helping them. Every interaction is an opportunity to help or to hurt. Choose to do the former. Remember that words leave a lasting impact whether you realize it or not.

Anne believes that each person is capable of becoming a leader. It’s just a matter of providing leadership opportunities to more people. Leadership is a skill that gets better the more we are able to practice it. It’s never too late nor too early to learn. The opportunities to grow are endless. By encouraging leaders from all backgrounds, we are allowing them to use their talents for good.

But how do we recognize what each other’s talents are? We must get to know people on a deeper level. Ask questions, engage in activities outside of work, and interact in new social environments. Be genuinely curious about their passions and hobbies. If you build enough trust in a relationship, people will be willing to share more about their personal lives. Engaging with others gives us a more accurate picture of who they are and challenges our initial assumptions about them.

Visit the Leadership Forum Community website to learn more about their events and programs. Don’t forget to sign up for their free leadership trainings! Reach out to Anne on LinkedIn or on her personal website. 

For more information on becoming an excellent leader, visit the Upspiral Leadership Website, and remember to tune in to our next episode.