Story by Joe Morris   Photo by Wes Aldridge  

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

Training leaders takes many directions in area’s multiple programs

Whether it’s learning to identify trends in business, finding better ways to communicate with employees or crafting strategies to increase productivity, successful businesses are run by strong leaders. And if a company is in Gillette, there’s no shortage of quality professionals and programs to brush up those management skills.

If team building and a coaching mentality is what you’re after, then Leslie Hughes, owner of the Holistic Coaching Center, likely has a program or plan for you. Working with mid-size corporations, including area ReMax offices, Hughes says that coaching skills can be implemented into leadership development, especially for supervisors and managers.

“We also train the rest of the workforce so that they can be successfully coached by their managers,” Hughes says. “If you tap into the employees’ values, and increase your manager’s potential with good coaching skills, then you’ve created a more cooperative environment for everybody. Then those people go on and develop other leaders within the corporation, and that’s one of the most important things we do as leaders.”

The Campbell County Chamber of Commerce also knows the importance of leaders, so it throws its muscle behind the very successful Gillette Area Leadership Institute, which works to “provide the community with a talent bank of well-informed, motivated leaders who care about the quality of life in their community,” according to the chamber.

Now in its 14th year, the leadership institute targets a wide cross-section of the business community for its classes, and puts those students through a wide-ranging, rigorous curriculum. Once complete, the graduates often find themselves much more involved in the community, serving on boards and taking part in a variety of volunteer and other activities.

Over at the Peregrine Leadership Institute, it’s all about taking proven leaders and enhancing their organizational effectiveness and other core skills.

“We focus on the supervisor and manager, on employee development programs,” says Dr. Olin Oedekoven, president. “We work on leadership training, human resources management and do some business consulting.”

The human resources arena covers a wide range of issues, Oedekoven says, everything from recruiting and retention to substance-abuse policy construction and workplace productivity.

“There are so many trends in the workplace, such as keeping current with technology,” he says. “And once the trend is identified, we can develop training for managers and supervisors, and an employee development program, that will help them address those issues. It’s a tight labor market right now, so good leadership is important to recruit and retain those good employees.”

Gillette woman shows how to reach potential

Leslie Hughes sees growth with Holistic Coaching Center

07/01/2005
Source: Wyoming Business Report
Author: Aliza P. Sherman

GILLETTE - Helping people reach their personal and professional potential is the goal of Holistic Coaching Center LLC in Gillette and a mission for the company's founder, Leslie Hughes.

Started in 2003, the business is focused on improving people's working environments and increasing leadership development and skills. Hughes offers training programs on teambuilding and leadership development for corporations as well as workshops for individuals. She also organizes wilderness and personal retreats and provides business and personal coaching.

"I wanted to be able to offer an alternative learning environment that was more about experiencing life and less about being a human 'doing,'" explains Hughes. "I've watched how we put limits on ourselves, run ourselves into the ground - both personally and professionally - and I was ready to be a leader."

With a BA in psychology and certification in Co-Active Coaching from the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) under her belt, Hughes was ready to take on the world, one individual or corporation at a time. Through a 10-month intensive training from the Co-Active Space Leadership Development Program, she learned to bridge her personal style with the need for cutting edge personal and business development. Her previous work experience included working as a grant writer for nonprofit organizations and seven years in the health-care industry.

One of her first business challenges came from one of her first clients - a medium-sized corporation. Originally, she thought she would be working with a small group of supervisors and managers, but she ended up training the entire company of 180 people.

Eight months later, the owners of the corporation were impressed and motivated by the training Hughes provided along with two co-leaders. She went on to work closely with the corporation's owners to create a company-wide coaching and leadership initiative to make a difference in both employee teamwork and satisfaction and overall profitability.

"Creating change in the culture of a corporation is like turning the tide of a large ocean," says Hughes, looking back on the experience. "I've learned that it takes time, it takes focus, and it takes tenacity and follow-through. And of course, a sense of humor always will get you out of the pit."

An important lesson Hughes has learned was that hiring the right people to help her was the "perfect decision" and then "leaning into" her own strengths and those of her customers. Over time, she's hired several co-leaders, some of whom were good fits within her company, others who weren't. Personnel issues continue to be a focus as she grows her company.

For marketing, she has used brochures, a Web site and professional testimonials. She relies heavily on positive word of mouth from one president of a company to another and feels that because everyone knows everyone in Wyoming, that carries her a long way.

As effective leadership and teamwork building continue to be highlighted in the media, Hughes believes that the demand for her services will continue to increase. In the first part of 2005 alone, she has grossed ten-fold what she did in her first year of business.

"There is a lot of competition and people are willing to pay more (to develop) strong interpersonal skills and leadership," says Hughes. "The job market is so flush that workers are no longer willing to work at a job where they aren't treated well. This makes owners, managers and supervisors strive to create a culture of continued opportunities and positive work environments in order to create any kind of longevity with their work force."

When she is in a workshop or retreat and participants discover something within themselves that will make them a better leader or team player, Hughes feels a sense of accomplishment. She is pleased that she could provide the education and environment for change as well as the motivation to move people into positive action.

Says Hughes, "When you can get a company to behave this way and to expect others to do the same, it creates powerful results. To watch people and cultures transform into a greater and higher version of themselves - what a great job!"

Hughes recommends aspiring and new business owners stop by a local Small Business Development Center, something she has benefited from in Gillette.

But more important, her advice is to "take the time to listen to people in Wyoming. They will let you know how you can serve them and what they value enough to pay for it. Be willing to be flexible with your services."

Aliza P. Sherman is an Internet guru, freelance writer, television producer and business and marketing consultant. If you know of women in business in Wyoming who would be good subjects for future columns, contact Aliza at mediaegg@hotmail.com.