The TPC team sat down with Mayor Hutchinson of Columbia, Illinois at Mokka Kaffeehaus, and discussed giving back, leadership and team chemistry. Columbia is the setting for TPC where Reid, the author, and his team grew up. The team in TPC started their dream in Columbia, and turned the dream into reality at the Illinois Boys Basketball State Tournament. Mayor Hutchinson, the TPC team says thank you for your support!*The Question and Answer dialogue is meant to help the reader understand how giving back impacts the community, and also their view on leadership and team chemistry. The Q & A content is presented in a conversation format, and not presented in a formal format to hold the integrity of the conversation. These topics are key messages from TPC, and the TPC team partnered with Mayor Hutchinson to learn from a leader of the community. Key points from the conversation are in bold.
Q/Reid:
How does giving back impact Columbia?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Most people who grew up here, feel there is a certain charm and work ethic in Columbia, they learned values. When you go to the schools, you'll see they emphasize respect. Respect in yourself and respecting others. Those values are instilled at a young age. When students get into middle school and high school, and become young adults they have community service obligations, they start giving back through clubs such as Kiwanis , Boy Scout, and other civic organizations. This helps instill those values of respect and working together as a community in our youth. Individuals’ coming together as a whole for the better good strengthens a community.
Q/Reid:
For the folks who grew up in Columbia, but now live elsewhere: What would be the value that they could bring to Columbia if they decide to give back?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Growing up here, they received a great education. The public school system is one of the top in state, one of the top in the nation. We always rank high. That shows you we are teaching at a young age how to be successful, and how to make the most out of your life. And sometimes to get that successful position they have to move away. What they can give back are some of those experiences of success and bring it back to the community like you did to write a book that leads to a better good. Admiral Trost and Admiral Weinel they spent their careers in the Navy, and they gave back to the community the Admiral Circle, a symbol for children no matter who you are or where you come from you can be the #1 ranking official of the Navy and sit on the joint Chief of Staff reporting to the President of the United States. Just coming back and talking about their success, such as coming back and speaking at the school's career day. To let them know what's out there and who knows, maybe someday in the future, we will have some big name Fortune 500 in the bottoms, so people don't have to move away.
Q/Reid:
Some find it more beneficial to donate resources, while others find it more beneficial to donate service for giving back. What is the value from resources such as equipment, books, clothes, money, food, etc. have on Columbia? And, what is the value from service such as Kiwanis Club, Jaycees, Lions Club, donating blood, Boy Scouts, volunteer coaching, etc. have on Columbia?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Every effort you put out there requires time, people, and money. Whether it's from building a park to building a playground to building a memorial. For example, the KEEP tutoring program, the Columbia Kiwanis saw there was a need for children that were left behind, not the D and F students that the state takes care of. But, the kids just struggling a little bit to turn the corner, there was nothing out there for them. Principals came to us and the Kiwanis Club did a car show to raise money for that purpose. They raised around $8-9k for the KEEP tutoring program, it could not be done without the efforts of Kiwanis, businesses donating money and resources, and many people donating their time. One without the other fails, you can have all the people in the world doing a service, but if they don't have the money to purchase the tools or equipment to carry out the service, the fundraiser will fail. You can have all the money to buy the resources, but if you don't have the people to put it together and make it happen, the fundraiser will fail.
There are doers and check writers, going back to your second question. What can someone do if they move away? They can keep in touch with the organizations. This year there were 7 Eagle Scouts that did various projects from cleaning up the library ground to building walking trails, and all that required money. For the people who move away and want to give back to the community, find that organization you're passionate about, find that group, and write them a check if you can't be here. For the people who don't have the money but have the time, they'll take that money and turn it around 10-fold; they'll take and put it to good use, and that's how the two partner together. One without the other will fail miserably.
Tie-in Q/Reid:
If someone would donate money from outside Columbia is there a way after the service is done to show them, maybe pictures that they can show, to make them feel proud about their contribution to the cause?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Absolutely, to give you an idea the Eagle Scouts that received donations from outside sources, took pictures and put together a collage and sent them as a thank you. Another, Monroe County Humane Society sends a letter saying thank you for your donations and this what your money contributed to. There are buildings dedicated to people and rooms dedicated to people. As far as being endowed and having something there forever, it's available.
Q/Reid:
A lot of folks get a lot of enjoyment from giving back but aren't sure how to get involved, what advice do you have for people who want to find a fit with the right charity project, but aren't sure how to get started in Columbia?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Call us! Find out what you're passionate about. If it kids, get involved in Kiwanis, in school, in scouting, or in YMCA. If it's animals, get involved with Humane Society. There's always something, even if you're not a voting member in a club or group you can still be very involved. Everybody thinks, if you don't have a vote you don't have a say. I sit on numerous boards regionally to where I have a say, but not a vote. I'm the President of Southwest IL Council Mayors which represents 4 counties and over 40 municipalities. I sit on the board of East West Gateway which represents 7 counties in St. Louis Metro, millions of people, and I have a voice and so Columbia has a voice.
So, find out what you're passionate about and what excites you and ask a few questions. Go to the City Hall, go to the library, go to the principal or superintendent, go to the civic organizations, just get involved. Whether you write that check or whether you spend a day with a shovel in your hand or whether you went to breakfast with Santa and made sure the coffee is full, no matter what, when you finish with the event, you're going to feel good. That's the joy of my job it's not about the money, but that's why I'm a scout leader and that's why I'm active in the Kiwanis, and that's why I serve my community in the end, the fulfillment of giving back makes the difference. We have volunteering programs for everyone. Whatever you're into, there is a way to give back to your community.
Tie-in Q/Reid:
Is there a specific source that provides more information about volunteering or giving back in Columbia?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
City website or economic development coordinator, we will connect you with a group that you're interested in helping.
Q/Reid:
How do you define leadership and team chemistry?
A/Leadership/Mayor Hutchinson:
First of all, respect is up-most important and I don't care if it's from the leader to the team members, or from the team members to the leader, or amongst the team members. You don't have to like each other and you don't have to agree, but you must have respect for each other. It is easier said than done but I think that's key. If you notice great leaders don't demand respect, they get respect because of how they lead. When I was in the army I found that just getting in there and working with the guys, letting them know that I care in what and how they were doing a job made a difference. Ultimately letting your team know you've been in their shoes before. If you treat people with respect and not get personal, it will go a long way as a leader.
Sometimes as a leader, you're in a position when you yell jump, they should hit the ground and ask was that high enough, not ask how high. But other times as a leader, your teammates come at you with a situation when you need to get their ideas, and you need to get the view from the people who do it on a day-to-day basis. I coined a phrase in city hall cowboy management. I'm not a micro-manager, and not going to tell you how to do your job. I will tell you, we need to get from point A to point B. That's the policy and plan. How you get from point A to point B, we will give you the tools and resources to get the job done. I'm going to leave you alone and let you do your job; you're the professional police chief, fire chief, engineer, or community economic developer. I don't have a professional background in those areas, but I know where we want to be as a city. I'm going to let you do your job. At the end of the day, I'm going to give you all the rope you need whether you bring in the prized steer or hang yourself, it's up to you, what you're going to do with that rope. That is why I call it cowboy management.
Tie-in Q/Reid:
I really like that, where did the cowboy management phrase come from?
A/Leadership/Mayor Hutchinson:
It went back to the term you give an inch, they take a mile. When I was in the army one of my squad members said, give an inch and they take a mile. And, a kid from Texas said give a rope, they think they're a cowboy. And for whatever reason when he said that, I put the two together and said give them a rope and see what they'll do with it. I just got cowboy management out of it.
Q/Team Chemistry/Reid:
How do you define team chemistry?
A/Team Chemistry/Mayor Hutchinson:
Sometimes chemistry just happens. I see it as everybody is different and Kiwanis is a great example. We have guys who are labor workers, we have business owners, we have secretaries, we have upper management personnel; all walks of life what we find is the individual roles and talents contributes to the whole. Like in basketball if everyone can shoot from the three point line who's going to drive the middle or rebound. To find everybody's strength and that's where the leader comes into play, he steps in and directs where everyone should be to utilize their strengths. Instead of saying you can't do a particular job, say you can do it, but the team is more effective if you do a different job. I think a leader should be more proactive and positive and nip negativity out before it happens. When you do that, now you're taking all the positive traits to fill a role for the better good of the team.
Another example, we were at an event and someone was complaining that a person only showed up for an hour and left. I said to the complainer, did you thank him? They looked at me and said what, I said did you thank him? Once again, positive and proactive. And actually in this case I happened to know what that person had to do that day. He went to a soccer game with his daughter, went by and saw his mom, and had another game that afternoon. When someone shows up for an hour that is an hour or more they gave. Some of us took the dedication to be there all day, while others have other commitments and give you an hour. When people dedicate any amount of their time, they took that amount out of their day to help; we should thank them and not belittle them.
Take the time to find the positive and be proactive. If you do that, the people around you will start seeing that and start following the leader. Team chemistry is built when every position has a role with a purpose and everyone feels like they contributed towards the win and treated with respect.
Q/Reid:
Everyone's not perfect, and everyone is constantly learning and improving. What do you recommend if people want to get better at leadership and team chemistry?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Analyze your results. Whether the result was positive, or negative make sure to analyze and learn from that analysis. As a leader if you take that approach, you will learn from those negative experiences and grow from the positive experiences. All that together makes me a stronger person. I think that goes back to team chemistry. If your passion is baseball play baseball. You may be a great basketball player but without the passion you will not be as great teammate as the average player that has that passion. The other players will pick up on the lack of passion and enthusiasm and that will kill team chemistry.
Tie-in Q/Reid:
How do you approach a problem to improve team chemistry?
A/Mayor Hutchinson:
Communicate honestly, factually, and with respect. If you do that, it will all work out. If you're honest with someone and do it respectfully, you can give them the worst of news and they will understand that it had to be done. Giving honest communication, straight from the heart, no belittling, not personal, no degrading, works. Approach everything with a loving spirit with honesty and truthfulness, it works out. It happens.
Mayor Hutchinson shared a Martin Luther King, Jr. quote:
"Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
