A couple of reasons why I decided to write about Leadership today. One has to do with Unity In Naperville and one with volleyball. Many of you may know that my son Dan coaches college volleyball, and led his men’s team to the Championship last Sunday. I couldn’t help but be proud of him and what he has accomplished in just over 2 years as the coach of the Stevens Institute of Technology’s program. But what you may, or may not know, is that I was watching the championship match on my phone during last Sunday’s Annual Meeting (shhh…. Don’t tell Rev. Kitty). But proud as I am of him and leading the team to the championship, I want to share how he started his career there. He contacted each of the players to set up individual meetings with them. They were shocked, and asked Why? His answer was he wanted to get to know each player as an individual. And that was not something they had ever experienced before from their previous coach. By getting to know each one, he could hone his coaching to what best met the needs and talents of the player, thus making a better team. And one of his goals, and how he groomed his players, was to be a coach who could not be at a practice, and the team would take over. In other words, he would have led the players to be leaders who could direct themselves to be the best they could be together. Leaders came forth through that kind of coaching. And the team was so deep, that when the starters were not in the game, the others played so well, that…well, look at the end result….. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
So what does this have to do with Unity In Naperville? Yes, Kitty is our “Coach” and a great leader, but she can’t do it by herself. We have had great leaders on the Board throughout the past 16 years, and 3 of our Board members just finished their terms. Now we have not 3, but 4 new “Boardies” stepping into that leadership role. I am so excited to see what we can achieve together as we listen to each other, as Dan did with his team and “coached” them to do that with each other. I heard last Sunday from each of the candidates and I am so impressed with their passion, their experiences, and their willingness and desire to give back to UIN, which has been such a meaningful part of who they are today. So, welcome to the Board Gina, Maureen, Nicole, and Susan as we lead UIN into the next phase of our development as a spiritual community. Can’t wait to see what happens.
As Dan said after the win, “This was the culmination of a monstrous amount of hard work, relationship building and failures leading to growth! There are no words to capture the feeling; something like satisfaction and peace, but better because you did it together with people you care about so much. To see the team’s joy and whatever we call this feeling, is one of the greatest joys life can offer us. “
And we can apply that to what we do together here at Unity in Naperville. With all of us working together – not just Rev, Kitty, or the Board, but with other leaders who step up to contribute to make this the great place it is to be together, with joy.
– From one proud Mom
