Thomas Parsons’ Post

Calling All Life Coaches, Community Builders, and Facilitators in Seattle! Want to facilitate more connection AND be a part of a pilot program that could change the world after it’s so successful in Seattle?? There’s an exciting new platform being developed to support the 60,000 newcomers to Seattle each year—and they need passionate leaders like you to join their volunteer team! Led by Aaron Hurst founder of the Taproot Foundation (the organization that revolutionized corporate volunteerism) and an overall amazing human, this is your chance to make a real impact. They are recruiting experienced community builders, life coaches, and facilitators for two key leadership roles: 1) Welcome Facilitators As a Welcome Facilitator, you’ll take the lead at their monthly Seattle Welcome Days at Town Hall, guiding newcomers through an inspiring experience where they’ll envision their best life in Seattle and make their first meaningful connections. 2) Neighborhood Leads As a Neighborhood Lead, you’ll partner with a local café, bar, or venue to host a monthly gathering for newcomers in your neighborhood—creating a welcoming space for them to connect, make friends, and build lasting community ties. I ❤️ both those roles SO much!! Ready to make a difference? Learn more about these roles and apply to join their team on their site: https://lnkd.in/gExmbnfe Let’s help Seattle’s newcomers build the connections that will set them up to thrive!

The last two months have been overwhelming yet incredibly exciting. One of the highlights was preparing for the visit of World Vision International President Andrew Morley. This is a leader I have admired from afar, and the opportunity to work closely with him was as humbling as it was inspiring. In my line of work, I am often behind the scenes, organizing, directing, making sure everything runs smoothly. It is a role I love, and I don’t mind. At most events, I can collect a thousand photos, but none will have me in them, and that’s fine by me. But this time, something unusual happened. While everyone eagerly captured their moments with Andrew, I was busy doing what I do best: making it all happen behind the scenes and ensuring their moments are captured. To my surprise, Andrew came over and asked someone to take a photo of us together! That simple gesture stunned me. It reminded me of a truth: leadership is not just about the big decisions or being in the spotlight. It’s about the little things, recognizing the unseen contributions and making others feel valued. Often, when someone is cooking or serving, we forget they might be hungry too. Andrew’s act of thoughtfulness left a lasting impression on me, one I’ll carry forward in both my work and life. It’s a reminder to pause, notice, and appreciate the people who work quietly behind the scenes. To all my colleagues and peers: let’s be the kind of leaders who see and celebrate the unseen. That’s the kind of impact that lasts.

Years ago, when I was learning to be a manager, I heard a lot of people talk about having an "open door" policy. I earnestly, and with the best of intentions, made sure my office door was open whenever possible. Did I have my back to the door? Yes, yes I did. Did I respond with body language that said "no" when someone asked if I had a minute? Also, yes. Did the whole team find me unapproachable? You bet they did. Next thing I knew, I had lost the trust of the team, who perceived me to have a giant closed door. How do you gain trust when you've tried your best to be a good manager and everyone still thinks you're not? How do you remain transparent when you rightfully need to keep a lot of things confidential and discrete? Join me tomorrow at noon CT for my third July Leadership Lunch Break. You will learn how to find out what matters to your team, remain professionalism while also being transparent, and (everyone's favorite) admit when you were wrong. I can't wait to see you there! franceszopp.com/events

It seems like I’m often sharing positive updates from our area, but as one of my former mentors used to say, when you have good news, it’s important to share it. Recently, we held a competition called the Easter Cup, where we recognised our top performers in FS, MA’s, and outbound calls over an eight-day period. Annabel emerged as the clear winner, despite only starting her career in February. She’s been a shining example of a flying start and a testament to our recruitment process. A few months back, I attended a Connells conference where they emphasised the challenge of cultivating a positive culture, using Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, as an example. While they weren’t suggesting I leave at the end of the season (I don’t believe 😊) they highlighted the importance of cultivating a winning culture in any market, because its all about your people. Throughout my management experiences, I’ve always noticed a tendency from above to focus on the negatives. Personally, I prefer to spend 5% of the time on challenges and 95% on finding solutions. While there are consequences for underperformance, I believe in adopting a winning mentality, much like Klopp’s philosophy. It’s about bouncing back from setbacks and empowering our team to be their best selves. In the East Kent business, we prioritise recognising and celebrating those who go above and beyond. We don’t just acknowledge their efforts; we make them feel valued and empowered to tackle any challenge. I firmly believe that when everyone, from the cleaner up to the MD, operates at their best, there’s no obstacle we can’t overcome. This not only translates to success in business but also enriches our lives with unforgettable memories, not just for us but our clients as well. While it’s admirable to aspire to be like Jurgen Klopp, I’d rather be true to myself, to be like Allun Lewis. With the support of my fantastic colleagues and leadership team, that’s exactly what we strive for in our region, be the best versions of ourselves and we’ve only just begun. If you ever feel undervalued in your current role and believe you have untapped potential, don’t hesitate to reach out to me in confidence. In our region, there’s always room for one more to join our journey towards success. maria O'Connor Andrew Bates Mann Countrywide Chris Rosindale Countrywide Connells Group

What is “Magical Moments” and Why is it important?? 2 months ago we had a few top performers from our remote team visit us here in GoldCoast, Australia. This was a part of the yearly incentive we ran for the entire company! I was always intrigued by the CULTURE some companies build and was always curious how the heck do they do it? And one of the KEY components of having a great culture is “Creating Magical Moments” for the team members. Here’s what we got to do as a part of this experience: ↳ We went to Sea World Theme Park as a team and did some crazy rides ↳ Hired a LIMO to go to dinner in a fine dine restaurant ↳ We also hosted a dinner for the team members in our house And now you may think why is this needed, why go to such great lengths with all these things. Here's WHY: ↳ For many team members its a once in a life time opportunity(for a lot of them this was their 1st international trip). ↳ Helps you as a leader to build deeper connections with your team members. ↳ Build camaraderie & trust with each other.  ↳ Helps you RETAIN top talent(its very competitive market out there). ↳Attract great talent who wants to be part of a company that VALUES people and really cares for them. Tell me, what do you do to create such magical moments in your team and company? #leadership #business #motivation #positive #values

Last week, my partner and I enjoyed an anniversary trip. We went out west to visit Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and Phoenix. It was a jam-packed trip of sight seeing and being kid-free with my partner in 5 years. But this post isn't really about me. It's about my team. They came together last week to make sure that everyone was supported. They solved problems together as they arose throughout the week and while I provided some support (updating schedules and offering quick suggestions in the group chat), this was the least stressed I have been while away - especially impressive because there wasn't someone in a Leadership position there as my AD position is still open. But my team accomplished what all bosses should aspire to have their teams do. They were successful without me. They came together and found the solutions necessary to make everyone's day easier. THIS is the dream as a leader. That your staff is confident and competent enough to function without you. I am grateful to know that they managed all the hurdles together. They even had to go an extra day when a car accident left my family and I stuck in CT until we could get a rental. For any manager who finds walking away from work to be nail biting, then it's time to evaluate what systems you have in place when you are there and how your leadership style impacts your team. Is there trust? Is there opportunities to explain reasons and procedures so your staff knows them as well as you? Is there small moments when staff can rise to the occasion and are they given the proper praise when they do? Can they envision your decisions and replicate them? As a leader, your job should never be to solve every problem but to give your team the confidence and support needed to do it themselves. I am so extremely proud of this team, and we still have so many opportunities to grow together, but I know they can do it and they want to do it. I cannot wait to see how our program continues to grow over the time.

🌟 Reflecting on one of my professional achievements: planning a highly successful company offsite in a city I had never visited! 🌟 The goal was clear: create an engaging, productive experience for the team while staying within budget. I embraced the challenge by: ✔️ Researching the city to find versatile, impactful venues and activities that resonated with the team’s preferences. ✔️ Collaborating with local vendors and negotiating favorable contracts with discounts or unique benefits. ✔️ Partnering with the finance team to create a detailed event planning spreadsheet that became our template for future events. The result? A seamless event that not only exceeded expectations but also boosted team morale—all while staying under budget. This project reinforced the power of strategic planning, thorough research, and cross-departmental collaboration. It also highlighted the importance of creating memorable experiences that inspire and connect teams. 📸 Picture of our sunset tour in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. #PeopleExperience #TeamBuilding #EventPlanning #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #ProfessionalGrowth #SuccessStories #Collaboration #EmployeeEngagement #Arizona

Realistic expectations are influenced by rintegrity, compassionate leadership, work-life balance, ethical decision-making, community engagement, sustainable practices, and respect for diversity. Balancing these fosters a fulfilling, purpose-driven life and set realistic expectations I present to you this short video which can change your way of life by Robert Ebo Hinson, DPhil, PhD EBO Hinson #share

Listening to your friends and family isn't always the best professional move. A few years back, my employer sent me to Spain to support the local management team. When I shared the news with friends and family, everyone freaked out. They said, "Cedric, people in Spain aren't welcoming to black people." They shared horror stories of mistreatment on their holidays. Despite this, I accepted the mission and went. 🇪🇸 And guess what? It was the best professional experience of my life! This is where I discovered my inner coach. I loved helping managers thrive, succeed, and get unstuck. It felt like gaining magical powers when I saw them obtain great results with their teams. My initial 1-month mission, got extended 😉. More paellas and tapas for me 😂 . Now, I help managers and SMB owners enjoy leading their teams to success. Leading others is a skill, not luck. 💪 If you feel confused, stuck, or unsure about leading your team effectively, DM me. Let's chat and see if we can work together. 🌟

We’re proud to share this feature of our CEO, Jeevan Tillit, in Bold Journey Magazine. Discover more about his leadership journey, the growth of East of Collins, and his insights on building a successful business. Follow the link below to read the full article and get inspired by his story! #EastOfCollins #Business #Projects #Inspiration