In this episode, we dive into the remarkable journey of Jon T. Locklear, CEO of Lumbee River Electric Member Cooperative, who turned around a struggling organization by fostering leadership cohesion and building trust. Discover the key practices he implemented to create a thriving workplace culture and develop emerging leaders with character and competence.
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In this episode:
Introduction and Background:
- Al Lopus introduces himself and Jon Locklear, CEO of Lumbee River Electric, highlighting Jon's leadership journey and experience. (01:44)
- Jon's role as CEO of Lumbee River Electric, his previous experience with HealthKeeperz, and his educational background are discussed. (01:51)
Challenges and Early Steps as CEO:
- Jon shares the initial challenges he faced, including managing 13 board members and dealing with organizational dysfunction. (02:53)
- Despite the difficulties, Jon saw an opportunity to bring unity and calm to the organization and its 70,000 members. (04:04)
Employee Engagement and Culture Transformation:
- Jon emphasizes the importance of conducting Employee Engagement Surveys to understand the organization's culture and employee perspectives. (04:37)
- The significant improvement in employee engagement, from 19% to 61.5% in one year, is highlighted as a result of trust-building and better communication. (06:02)
Leadership Approach and Trust-Building:
- Jon discusses the importance of resolving dysfunction at the senior leadership level and using the book Road to Flourishing to guide the process. (06:47)
- Trust and communication were identified as key areas for improvement, leading to initiatives like a fun committee and a communication committee to foster a positive work environment. (07:29)
Faith and Leadership Principles:
- Jon integrates his faith into his leadership, seeking wisdom from God daily and prioritizing genuine care for his employees. (14:14)
- He mentions the creation of one-on-one meetings to listen to employees and build trust by understanding their personal motivations and challenges. (14:55)
Emerging Leaders and Leadership Development:
- Jon looks for character traits like caring for others and willingness to learn when identifying emerging leaders. (21:08)
- A leadership curriculum was developed to train potential leaders in areas like operational management, emotional intelligence, and understanding cooperative principles. (21:31)
- The curriculum is designed by senior leadership and requires supervisor recommendation. (22:12)
Leadership Training and Courses:
- Key courses include operational management, emotional intelligence, co-op principles, governance, and industry-specific topics like renewables. (23:17)
- The goal is to prepare emerging leaders with both the skills and understanding needed to lead effectively within the organization. (24:50)
Organizational Culture and Consistency:
- Jon emphasizes the importance of creating consistency in culture, aiming for ongoing positive employee engagement results. (25:11)
- He also focuses on building a unified culture between employees and the board, including training for board members on healthy governance practices. (26:08)
Member Engagement and Communication:
- Improved organizational culture has led to better engagement with members, who feel more informed and trust the organization more. (27:35)
- Proactive communication with members has become a priority, helping them understand and support the organization's direction. (28:30)
Community Impact and Employee Well-Being:
- A flourishing workplace culture positively impacts employees' personal lives, making them better family members and contributing to community well-being. (31:07)
- Lumbee River EMC has introduced Corporate Chaplains of America to provide additional care and support for employees, addressing their physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. (31:35)
Final Thoughts:
- Jon emphasizes seeking God's guidance in leadership and the broader impact of a healthy workplace culture on families and communities. (30:47)
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