Dr. Alyncia Bowen: Executive Director
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: of the Global Center for Healthcare Education as well as the Executive director for the Franklin University Leadership Center. And I’m so excited that each of you decided to join us on today. For our last session for the Pool series which stands for the powerful, unmistakable legacy leaders. And today we have Shamika I. Smith, who currently holds
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: the position of vice president of housing programs at impact community action with almost 20 years of experience in social services in Columbus, Ohio. Shamika, sir, has served in various capacities, in areas of housing.
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: homelessness, community mental health, and child welfare. She has been an active participant and community wide efforts in Central Ohio focused on systematic change of service delivery
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: beyond her professional achievements. Shamika is driven by a desire to serve others, and to be an advocate for those unseen and unheard in community members. You know.
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: when I was talking with Jamaica earlier, she says you could some some even short net bio, and just say I’m here to serve. And she truly has been a servant leader and her support of Franklin University’s Leadership center and our nonprofit space that we’re entering. I’m excited to hear from this wonderful presenter. I know that you will be encouraged to continue to thrive
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: as a powerful, unmistakable legacy leader and Shamika. It is now in your hands. Thank you very much. Shameikia I. Smith: Thank you so much for that wonderful introduction. Thank you. Dr. Bowen and special shout out to Jenny, who’s getting me? Together with the technology. We certainly appreciate that.
Shameikia I. Smith: So I believe that you all can see the screen. Shameikia I. Smith: So we’re just gonna go ahead and make it happen right. If you can see it, you can clap once wherever you are. So today we’re gonna talk about. There is no success without successors.
Shameikia I. Smith: Now, what do you think about
Shameikia I. Smith: when you think about success. What do you hear? What? What do you consider when you consider succession? Should we remind ourselves that in order to create succession. You need to consider how to prepare yourself and others for success. So real quick in the chat, this is, gonna be interactive. What do you think about when you think about success. And what do you think about when you think about succession? And I just want you all to strap in and buckle your seat belts if you’re in your car, or if you’re at home, or if you’re at work because this conversation today is gonna be about you.
Shameikia I. Smith: So success today as an acronym is. See your goals, understand your obstacles, create a positive picture, clear your mind of doubts, embrace the challenge, stay in your own magic, or stay in your lane and show the world you can do it.
Shameikia I. Smith: So let’s talk about the power of communication
Shameikia I. Smith: goals right? We talk about success. Goals need to be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time based. And here’s a quote from Harriet Tubman that says, every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars, and to change the world.
Shameikia I. Smith: You’re never too old to set a goal or to set a dream.
Shameikia I. Smith: Do you remember your childhood dreams, those big, hairy, audacious goals? No one couldn’t tell you you weren’t gonna be the next doctor in your family. You weren’t gonna be the next lawyer in your family. You weren’t going to be the next Supreme Court justice, and if we’re honest. Those childhood dreams have helped to fuel some of our adult dreams
Shameikia I. Smith: as someone who’s sitting in a particular seat of authority or leadership. There are times that we have to help individuals lead from the middle or lead from every seat, as someone recently told me, help people see the value in their current seat. There is power in sharing your aspirations, your goals.
Shameikia I. Smith: someone you share your aspirations and your goals with might just be willing to open a door for you, whether you are an entrepreneur or you’re currently working for someone else. You work for an organization or you work for an agency.
Shameikia I. Smith: Find someone willing to say your name in rooms, find someone that can speak well of you. Shameikia I. Smith: find someone that can share in your development. Shameikia I. Smith: Understand the obstacles. Shameikia I. Smith: obstacles don’t have to stop you.
Shameikia I. Smith: If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Shameikia I. Smith: Figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around it, and that’s from Michael Jordan.
Shameikia I. Smith: Fear can be good when you’re walking past an alley at night, or when you need to check the locks on your doors before you go to bed, but it’s not good when you have a goal, and you’re fearful of obstacles. We often get trapped by our own fears, but anyone who has had success
Shameikia I. Smith: has failed before. That’s from the Queen, Queen Latifah. Shameikia I. Smith: There may be a need when you see an obstacle to call and help. Shameikia I. Smith: Help does not mean that you are not capable.
Shameikia I. Smith: Calling and help simply means you are willing to share the load and burden with someone else. Now let’s be clear. Shameikia I. Smith: Help is specific, and everyone does not have the ability to help. Shameikia I. Smith: so know the difference
Shameikia I. Smith: also. No, when you are the obstacle. If we were together I would say, say that to your neighbor. Sometimes I’m the obstacle, sometimes we are stubborn, and sometimes we cannot see our own stuff, and we wanna blame someone else for our unwillingness to show up differently our unwillingness to develop ourselves and others in our unwillingness to manage the difficult spaces and places.
Shameikia I. Smith: There is balance needed between gentleness and strength. Shameikia I. Smith: and you need to know when you have to flex either way. Shameikia I. Smith: Sometimes it doesn’t feel good. Go ahead. Tell your neighbor. Sometimes it doesn’t feel good.
Shameikia I. Smith: create a positive picture. The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whenever they do. Shameikia I. Smith: That’s from Kobe Bryant.
Shameikia I. Smith: You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot. It’s all there. Shameikia I. Smith: everything influences each of us, and because of that Shameikia I. Smith: I try to make sure that my experiences are positive, and that’s from Maya and Julie.
Shameikia I. Smith: You need to be able to believe it in order to see it. If you see yourself as the CEO, as the CO. As the Cfo. Go ahead and believe that if you see yourself owning your own business. If you see yourself moving to a different city or state, believe it.
Shameikia I. Smith: Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results. Shameikia I. Smith: So what? You don’t have the official title. So what? You’re not the boss. Shameikia I. Smith: So what someone else is in charge
Shameikia I. Smith: does that mean that you can’t see yourself in that role or in that office. Shameikia I. Smith: Take on a stretch, opportunity where you can, where you can be seen in a different way. Shameikia I. Smith: has to step up as a leader. Shameikia I. Smith: The boss.
Shameikia I. Smith: Come on, do that with me. The boss has to see you with initiative, with flexibility and dependability. Shameikia I. Smith: There has to be a moment where you can be trusted with the assignment. Go ahead and put that in the chat. I’m trusted with the assignment
Shameikia I. Smith: you have to allow yourself not to be weighed down by your past. Shameikia I. Smith: so you can see yourself soaring in your future Shameikia I. Smith: speaking impact. Shameikia I. Smith: Shout out to all those from impact on the call. Shameikia I. Smith: Clear your mind of doubt.
Shameikia I. Smith: understanding that, being nervous, having doubts and lacking confidence. Our emotions that are that are human is how you deal with it. Shameikia I. Smith: It is okay to feel that way.
Shameikia I. Smith: And then, understanding that you can work through it. And that’s from Venus Williams. So change. I can’t go ahead and take off that T to. I can. Shameikia I. Smith: If you think you can, you will. Shameikia I. Smith: if you think you can’t, you won’t.
Shameikia I. Smith: If you don’t believe in your own capacity, your own ability, and your own skills. How do you expect someone else to?
Shameikia I. Smith: And here’s a really, really, really great one. Find your circle that will help you push towards your next and eliminate those that are waiting on you to fail. I’ll say that again, for the people in the back.
Shameikia I. Smith: find your circle that will help you. Push towards your next and eliminate those waiting on you to fail. Shameikia I. Smith: Allow yourself to see that failure and difficulty are an opportunity for your next victory. Shameikia I. Smith: Put yourself out there.
Shameikia I. Smith: You are responsible for your development Shameikia I. Smith: to attend a meeting. Shameikia I. Smith: to attend a conference, a training. Shameikia I. Smith: Get on a board? Shameikia I. Smith: What if they say yes. Shameikia I. Smith: sometimes
Shameikia I. Smith: we take the growing pains personal, and you should, because you are responsible for growing. Shameikia I. Smith: overcoming worry. Will you be ready if they say yes, somebody put in the chat. I’m ready. Shameikia I. Smith: Embrace the challenge.
Shameikia I. Smith: Cecily Tyson says challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. Shameikia I. Smith: Rosa Parks said. I’ve learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear, knowing what must be done, does away with fear.
Shameikia I. Smith: and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King stated that the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience. Shameikia I. Smith: but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Shameikia I. Smith: And Winston Churchill said, If you’re going through hell.
Shameikia I. Smith: keep going. Shameikia I. Smith: Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Shameikia I. Smith: That was William Shakespeare. Shameikia I. Smith: And Bob Marley said. Shameikia I. Smith: truth is, everybody is gonna hurt. You
Shameikia I. Smith: you just gotta find the ones worth suffering. Forward. Shameikia I. Smith: Listen! If it’s worth having, then it’s worth fighting for. Yes, you will be mad. Shameikia I. Smith: Yes, you would be frustrated.
Shameikia I. Smith: and you might even use bad words. We feel like you’ve been left out and forgotten. Shameikia I. Smith: You will want to quit. Shameikia I. Smith: Let let me just pause on that one you will want to quit.
Shameikia I. Smith: I’ll say it again. I have wanted to quit when someone else has been chosen. That I believed Shameikia I. Smith: this is a transparent moment was not as good as me. Shameikia I. Smith: but I didn’t quit.
Shameikia I. Smith: You have to find a way to push through the noise, the chaos, the naysayers, so that you can hold on to your next. Shameikia I. Smith: You may have to also honestly admit that you’re not in the right role currently to set you up for your next destination.
Shameikia I. Smith: You need to identify a sponsor, a mentor, and an advocate to help you navigate, and a mentor prepares you for the room, shares knowledge and guidance a sponsor positions you in the room builds bridges, and actively promotes. You Shameikia I. Smith: know, the difference
Shameikia I. Smith: don’t run from your development, and sometimes correction is hard to swallow. Shameikia I. Smith: and then an advocate places you at the table, helps you with visibility through connection and support to opportunities, ultimately putting their social capital on the line by co-signing for you
Shameikia I. Smith: and I just want to share this. Not everyone can be a sponsor. Be able to know the difference and ask for what you need. Shameikia I. Smith: Nothing is impossible. The word itself simply says. Shameikia I. Smith: I’m possible
Shameikia I. Smith: for those shirtmakers out there. I’d like this one a shirt. I need it in a size large. Shameikia I. Smith: Stay and get out of your own way. Stay in your lane and stay in your magic. You know you. Shameikia I. Smith: You are your best advocate.
Shameikia I. Smith: You also know at this point in your life what you’re willing to do. Shameikia I. Smith: There are no real surprises. Shameikia I. Smith: If you have a passion for people, you should be in the people business.
Shameikia I. Smith: If you do not have a passion for people, then stop what you’re doing immediately Shameikia I. Smith: to get in the game and then show up because you’ve practiced Shameikia I. Smith: private preparation for public presentation.
Shameikia I. Smith: You know, when you can trust someone with the assignment, and you know, when you’re trustworthy of the assignment. Shameikia I. Smith: stop overthinking, stop over analyzing, and just do.
Shameikia I. Smith: If you are the leader, you are responsible for the growth of the company and the organization and the department which also includes the people. Go ahead and activate your own superhero. If given the right tools and training and access, you can make it happen.
Shameikia I. Smith: Go ahead and say I can make it happen. Shameikia I. Smith: Show the world you can do it. Shameikia I. Smith: show the world you can do it, know the material in advance, anticipate common questions, rehearse your responses.
Shameikia I. Smith: don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them. Madam Cj. Walker. Shameikia I. Smith: Those that don’t. Shameikia I. Smith: and I know this won’t be proper English. So for my English teachers out in the crowd. Please forgive me.
Shameikia I. Smith: Those that don’t got it can’t show it. Shameikia I. Smith: Those that don’t got it can’t show it. So if you ain’t got it, you can’t show it.
Shameikia I. Smith: but if you can dream it, you can do it. And Walt Disney said, that be ready. There will be a time when your name is called. Be ready, be ready to show up, be prepared. You are responsible for your development, so own it, study.
Shameikia I. Smith: ask questions, be inquisitive. Be curious. Spend time with the CEO Cfo Coo Vice President. All these acronyms, all of these titles get to know the business. Shameikia I. Smith: If you’re an entrepreneur.
Shameikia I. Smith: Ask other entrepreneurs about how they’ve done this, and how they’ve done that. Ask them to introduce you to some other people, to some like minded folk. Shameikia I. Smith: And then, lastly, mentoring matters. Shameikia I. Smith: manage expectations. Shameikia I. Smith: When you stumble, it shows that you’re sincere.
Shameikia I. Smith: Expectations must be expressed. That’s a two-way street. Shameikia I. Smith: Safety is important for yourself and for others. Shameikia I. Smith: Cues create ballots. Shameikia I. Smith: Coaching is caring. Be authentic model
Shameikia I. Smith: with leadership and model. What leadership and freedom looks like. Look at me! Stumbling had an error. Shameikia I. Smith: have an innovative response to a complex problem. Your ideas matter?
Shameikia I. Smith: Yes, there is a time and some yes, there is a time, and sometimes we need to be reminded that there is and can be another way. Sometimes it is also okay to let someone in let someone else win. So Mentees, when it’s time for you to be tapped as a mentor. Don’t wait until your annual performance review to just to discuss growth opportunities. What are your strengths?
Shameikia I. Smith: How do you leverage those to be beneficial in your department, and then in your organization, or in your area or your area of business? If you’re an entrepreneur. How do you leverage your strings through a network of people to share and barter with?
Shameikia I. Smith: What if you don’t feel safe in your current space? Shameikia I. Smith: Can you look at the picture differently and work to create safe spaces for you and for others, to prevent the things that you have experienced again to someone else.
Shameikia I. Smith: You may not be the only one that has experienced unsafe workplace practices, but you can help facilitate change Shameikia I. Smith: again. Know the cues.
Shameikia I. Smith: have a signal, a phrase, a stimulus that will begin a specific action. Give yourself hints to return to a balanced place. Sometimes that is, a posted note, notebooks, journals, planners, work with your coworkers to share in identifying
Shameikia I. Smith: when you’ve gotten off track. And let’s be honest, we all get off track.
Shameikia I. Smith: What do you need from your supervisor, from the person responsible. You know, for your performance review from your boss, you know. However, we like to call that. What do you need from them to have balance in your work and your work assignments. What are your non-negotiables?
Shameikia I. Smith: Share that and be open to a response? Shameikia I. Smith: And guess what ladies and gentlemen Shameikia I. Smith: feedback is a gift. Shameikia I. Smith: and we all know Shameikia I. Smith: that some gifts. Shameikia I. Smith: if we’re honest, we didn’t ask for them.
Shameikia I. Smith: We didn’t want to unwrap them. Shameikia I. Smith: It’s not our color. Shameikia I. Smith: But folks. Shameikia I. Smith: sometimes we have to believe it. Shameikia I. Smith: Feedback is important and is vital to our growth.
Shameikia I. Smith: You may see yourself one way, and others may see and experience you in an entirely different way. Shameikia I. Smith: Be prepared to hear. Shameikia I. Smith: We’ll we’ll say that again. Be prepared to hear. Shameikia I. Smith: to listen Shameikia I. Smith: and not Shameikia I. Smith: to respond.
Shameikia I. Smith: We will not always get it right. Shameikia I. Smith: So let’s take responsibility for our failure Shameikia I. Smith: and get back at it. Shameikia I. Smith: You are not your failures. Shameikia I. Smith: and lastly.
Shameikia I. Smith: for those of you that sit in seats of power to open doors Shameikia I. Smith: and pull out seats? Shameikia I. Smith: Because I know it’s not a secret. Shameikia I. Smith: You won’t always occupy that seat. Shameikia I. Smith: Why not help someone else get in the room.
Shameikia I. Smith: because you won’t always be there. Shameikia I. Smith: And, ladies and gentlemen, that is our. There is no success without successors. Shameikia I. Smith: Thank you so much. Jeni Cooke: Thank you so much, Jamica.
Jeni Cooke: that was very enlightening. Does anyone have any questions? If you want to put those in the chat, we can we have some time for questions? If anyone is, would like to to ask anything. Jeni Cooke: we’ll see if anybody puts anything in here.
Jeni Cooke: We have plenty of time. See? You’re worried. Shameikia I. Smith: Yes, I was super worried that it was a lot of words, and we wouldn’t have enough time, you know, again, so grateful, so so so so grateful! Shameikia I. Smith: Oh. Jeni Cooke: Was on.
Jeni Cooke: Let’s see, I can get my video in here. Jeni Cooke: I thought I was up. Jeni Cooke: Let’s see. Jeni Cooke: pretty energy. Shameikia I. Smith: How do you identify people who are only waiting there to see us fall or fail? Shameikia I. Smith: Wow! Shameikia I. Smith: That
Shameikia I. Smith: woo! I don’t know that we have enough time. Right? There will always be someone in the room who is expecting you to fail. That doesn’t mean you show up any differently. You are responsible for how you show up. You’re not necessarily responsible for how someone else shows up. And
Shameikia I. Smith: we have to be okay with having those uncomfortable conversations. So I would ask, you know, someone Shameikia I. Smith: a question around, how can we equally be responsible for each other’s success. Shameikia I. Smith: and be open to receiving and Shameikia I. Smith: and and hearing the feedback.
Shameikia I. Smith: because they may not know that they are Shameikia I. Smith: showing up that way.
Shameikia I. Smith: Now I’m not telling this to go out, you know. Stop nothing. We’ll start in a No. B method. But there is an opportunity to have a conversation, because growth and development should be a 2 way street. It should not be a a one way thoroughfare
Shameikia I. Smith: any books you recommend? Oh, listen! Look at you guys. Shameikia I. Smith: Yeah, there are. I’ve got a few books in my office. Here Shameikia I. Smith: Peter Drucker writes a book called the 5 most important questions you will ever ask about your organization.
Shameikia I. Smith: There’s also a book called Nonviolent Communication, a language of life. Shameikia I. Smith: empathy, collaboration, authenticity, and freedom. And it’s like words, matter find common ground with anyone anywhere and at any time, both personally and professionally. And this is by Marshall B. Rosenberg.
Jeni Cooke: I’ve got one for you. So you know, we hear a lot about the you know the different generational. Jeni Cooke: the generations within the workforce right? And a lot of the people
Jeni Cooke: who have a lot of the knowledge of your organization might be leaving or starting to retire. How are you Jeni Cooke: setting them up for success to have that successor.
Shameikia I. Smith: Yeah, that’s that’s a really great call in Jenny. And and you know, I’m I’m working with some some organizations, particularly Franklin. Right? Franklin. You know, we’re working on on ways to identify individuals who are ready for those those next seats we’re talking about. You know, different leadership academies. There are various leadership academies in our city. I’m the a proud alumni of the African American Leadership Academy, and so there are different opportunities for people to be exposed to leadership and and in different leadership rooms.
Shameikia I. Smith: So again, part of it is understanding your network. And you know, someone told me years ago that your net worth equals your network. So, understanding how your network
Shameikia I. Smith: plays in line with with what your future could look like, so ask somebody to be in those rooms. You know there are civic organizations, and you know, fraternities and sororities that help position individuals so that they can be seen in different ways, and all you have to do is I again? I’ve been told this as a young child, and probably still this day I asked too many questions, and so there’s something. I want to know where someone I want to know. I’m all ask a question.
Shameikia I. Smith: and there are some people who who I now call mentors, who who I know. I’m now able to sit at their feet because I I continue to ask questions, and I continue to ask when I could get time with them.
Jeni Cooke: Yeah, that is difficult for some people right to ask those questions or feel like their question might not be worth asking. So you do have a few more questions in here. Let’s see, the imposter syndrome always tries to rear its ugly head. Any advice on how to combat it.
Shameikia I. Smith: Whoo, Ciao! Shameikia I. Smith: We gonna need a whole. We gonna need a whole series about imposter syndrome and and if I’m honest to be transparent. Dr. Alyncia Bowen: Yeah, I think we will.
Shameikia I. Smith: If I’m honest and transparent, which we all we all family now I I I I can be honest to say that there are times where I feel like I’m not supposed to be in certain spaces and places. I feel like I’m not good enough, and and and I don’t deserve to be in that space. And I think the power of the message is something that we tell ourselves.
Shameikia I. Smith: So we have to then tell ourselves different messages, and we also have to align ourselves with other folk who are willing to to to see the good in us
Shameikia I. Smith: that we want other people to see. So, being able to align ourselves with folks who are going to mentor us, who are going to sponsor us, and then who are going to advocate us to remind us that Shameikia I. Smith: you’re supposed to be here.
Shameikia I. Smith: and you’re here. So because you’re here, show up. See yourself in this room. Jeni Cooke: Let’s see. Jeni Cooke: Oh, someone asked if you could put the names of those books in the chat. Shameikia I. Smith: It looks like someone has. Jeni Cooke: Oh, good. Okay.
Shameikia I. Smith: Is. Heather’s been on it.
Shameikia I. Smith: We appreciate you all for being here. I get. I see, some former coworkers here. I’ve got some of my sorority sisters here. I’ve got some impact staff here, and some some names that I’m I’m familiar with. I I see you all. Thank you all for being here and and supporting, and again to to Dr. Bowen into Jenny. I’m so honored. That you chose this little girl from Bluefield, West Virginia.
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: You’ve done a really great job, Shamika. I know you kept trying to get out of it. But look look what you have done. You’ve sparked a conversation. Your energy and vibrancy is why we know that you are a powerful, unmistakable legacy leader, and I’m so excited about your present in your future and your just the way that you have engaged all of us. I appreciate you for coming in your authentic voice.
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: and so thank you so very much. I I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen and what I’ve heard, and looking forward to more more opportunities for you to share with us. And you know, while this is nearing the end of women’s History month.
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: and that means the end of the Pool series. I think we couldn’t have done a better job, having you summarize that for us or end our sessions. I just wanted to also remind you that the Leadership center is still here, and we will be having our next event on April the 20 fourth, with Brian, Dr. Brian. Black, he’ll be dealing with, leading with authenticity and trust.
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: Also you, I wanna remind everyone that we have our Mason symposium, which is in Am.
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: In September. Want you to save the date? It was on the advertisement earlier while we’re waiting to start, and I want to take one last opportunity to thank each and every one of you for supporting us. Not only for the Pool series, but also for
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: The Leadership Center. Trust me when I say I’m excited about our future and knowing that we’re going to continue to soar and to impact lives as well. I wanted to recognize Karen Fowler, who is also one of our Leadership Center Advisory Board members. Thank you so very much for coming on the line today.
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: If you ever have any questions, please reach out to either myself or Jenny Cook. Jenny is the Coordinator for the Leadership Center, and there is no way we can do what we do without her. So I really appreciate her for her efforts. Dr. Alyncia Bowen: Thank you.
Dr. Alyncia Bowen: Karen, did you want to say something? Dr. Alyncia Bowen: You’re on mute. karen: Look, you would think we learn, after all of these years right.
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