Walt:

Star Radio, Sunday Jazz brunch time once again for the Power of Potential with AIM Services, supporting people with disabilities and traumatic brain injury. Each week, we talk with Chris Lyons, the Executive Director. Good morning, Chris.

Chris Lyons:

Good morning, Walt. How are you my friend?

Walt:

Doing good. It’s a little lonely in the broadcast bunker but I’m totally prepared for any plane parts that may be falling from the sky.

Chris Lyons:

Yeah, It’s been a very strange 2020 and 2021, but I think the end of this year will be a lot better than the beginning. And you know, we’re only a few weeks away from the official start of spring. I know the light will be coming into the bunker soon. And I’m just worried about you having an initial reaction to the sun. You might want to think about stocking up on some sunscreen.

Walt:

There is a light. I’m starting to feel more optimistic, Chris. I know you are too.

Chris Lyons:

Yes, the numbers look good. From our standpoint, we’ve had no hospitalizations. We’ve had no quarantines or need to isolate or contact trace, in a number of weeks now. So we’re feeling as though what we’re doing works. And then of course, we gave out vaccinations last week as a point of distribution. Very glad to do that. We’re grateful for the effort that everybody put into it, the teamwork. You and I have been covering this now for a year. I think it’s really shown us what people can do when they put their mind to it and have some resolve. There is a common humanity amongst all of us and the things that unite us far outnumber the things that might divide us. So it’s good to see it manifested in such an important way. It’s such an important time and it just makes this community all the better for it.

Walt:

And one of the key players in leadership in Saratoga County is Kathleen Fyfe, who is our special guest today on the Power of Potential. Now consulting AIM Services, formerly the head of the Leadership Saratoga Program, which I’m a proud graduate from the 2017 class.

Chris Lyons:

Yeah. I’m so grateful to give Kathleen a voice to talk a little bit about AIM and her experience. Most of your listeners will know her from her good work at the Chamber and as you referenced, Leadership Saratoga. By the way, Walt, your listeners should know that you had the best class, you had the best group, and you were the commencement speaker, and you knocked it out of the park. I think that’s online somewhere and if anybody gets a chance to see you speak, it was a beautiful speech and really resonated with the audience.

Walt:

Well, thank you, Chris. And as I recall, you helped to inspire that commencement speech.

Chris Lyons:

You’re too kind. I’m so grateful that Kathleen now has established Fyfe Consulting. Her good work at the Chamber is now morphed into this private enterprise and she’s done incredible work with our leadership initiatives. We’ve been trying to give mid-management and our leaders the skillset to reach for the top so that we can cascade that mission of person-centeredness, of courage and kindness with each other, so that we value each other and bring our best to work every day. And Kathleen’s been instrumental in moving that forward. And I do want to mention she’s not just good at consulting, but Kathleen’s a wonderful friend to both of us, and she’s been high energy since she started her new enterprise.

Walt:

And she’s with us today. She’s on the other line and we look forward to talking to her. Thank you as always. Be safe, and I look forward to talking to you again next week, Chris.

Chris Lyons:

Take care my friend.

Walt:

The President of Fyfe Consulting, Kathleen Fyfe, good morning.

Kathleen Fyfe headshotKathleen Fyfe:

Good morning, Walt.

Walt:

I’ve always admired all the work that you’ve done in helping other businesses with leadership and training.

Kathleen Fyfe:

Oh, I’m so glad. I have a lot of fun helping people have aha moments and recognize that they can show up a little bit differently in the world. And you and I certainly have had an opportunity to play around in that playground.

Walt:

What is it about the culture at AIM Services that attracts people to work there?

Kathleen Fyfe:

Oh, that’s a great question. AIM is a really special organization and the services they provide for the people that they support, helping people be their best selves. People who are living with a development disabilities or a traumatic brain injury, they still have wants and needs, and choices about how they want to live their life. And AIM stepped up to the plate to allow people to find the way to live the lives they want to live. And it’s also the people who serve the people that AIM supports. The staff is tremendous and there’s a real culture of caring and connectedness and collaboration. It makes for a really special energy to be around. You can tell that they enjoy being with one another and supporting the people that AIM supports.

Walt:

You’re listening to Star Radio, Sunday Jazz Brunch, the Power of Potential segment, our special guest, Kathleen Fyfe, President of Fyfe Consulting. When it comes to leadership, how do managers empower their employees to feel good about their jobs every day when it might be difficult?

Kathleen Fyfe:

It’s an interesting concept that I’ve really spent time thinking about what management means. Years ago, there was a different thought process around managers. Managers were the ones who gave the orders of what it was that people were supposed to do. And I think managers now, if you are a servant leadership style manager, which in my opinion, is the healthiest and most supportive. A manager’s role is to provide the resources to the people who they support. Their role is to support their people, give them the resources, give them the opportunities to grow and develop and do their job the best that they know how, and hopefully develop them as people. And so what I think is really important for managers to provide, not only whether it’s skills or knowledge, but purpose, autonomy, big picture thinking, and helping people know their value to the organization. Those are things that if a manager can provide for their staff, I think it really helps people to become tremendously successful.

Walt:

I’ve heard you speak in the past about emotional intelligence and mindfulness.

Kathleen Fyfe:

Yes. One of the biggest things that we can do in support of ourselves, but also in support of anyone else is to have an awareness of ourselves. Have an awareness of how we are showing up in the world and recognize that once you have an awareness, then you’re in a place where you can actually make choices about how you’re choosing to show up in the world. And the more that we can have that understanding, an organization can grow and individuals can grow. Emotional intelligence is definitely a topic that I continue to offer training and workshops on because it’s foundational. Once you can be aware of your own emotional intelligence and it really opens the doors for more growth and for better communication with people whom you’re working with and for better collaboration. It’s really the key to a lot of success for people.

Walt:

And what’s your takeaway from the leadership training that you’ve been able to do at AIM Services?

Kathleen Fyfe:

It’s been a thrill for me. Longtime supporter, admirer, and advocate for AIM Services and the work that the organization does. And now I feel that I have this wonderful chance to be part of the team. And I’m getting to know a lot more of the leaders at AIM and having conversations with them around things like emotional intelligence and self-awareness and how to improve our communication with one another. And just having those conversations and allowing the leadership at AIM to continue to grow in their own path, just seems that they are showing up even better in their person-centered care of the people who AIM supports.

Walt:

One last question, Kathleen. What would you say to somebody who’s thinking, well, maybe I’d like to join the AIM team?

Kathleen Fyfe:

Well, first, it’s an amazing group of people doing amazing work. I believe one of the best things that we can do for ourselves and for our community is to find ways and opportunities to support other people, making an impact for someone else in the positive. To me, that’s the reason for getting out of bed in the morning. And I can’t think of a much better organization than AIM because their entire role is to support people to be their best selves. It’s work that’s meaningful. It’s work that is life changing. And I think if you care about making a difference in someone else’s life, then AIM Services is definitely an organization that you should consider having a conversation with and see if it’s the right fit for you.

Walt:

That’s great, Kathleen. Thank you for all the work you’re doing at AIM. And I look forward to the day when we can get past this pandemic and get out and enjoy the Saratoga that you and I both love.

Kathleen Fyfe:

Oh, I look forward to that day too, Walt. And thanks so much for having me on. It’s been great to be with you.

Walt:

You too. Have a great day.

Kathleen Fyfe:

You too.

Walt:

You’ve been listening to the Power of Potential with AIM Services, our special guest, Kathleen Fyfe, president of Fyfe Consulting.

Learn more about joining the AIM team.

Listen to the radio interview below.