Message from Gail Miller –
This summer, the Gail Miller Women’s Leadership Group (GMWLG) hosted an event centered on “Coping During Challenging Times.” The discussion was timely, and the panelists’ messages were powerful. If you missed it and have some free time, you can watch it here:
I appreciate that the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies and our leadership teams are ever aware of and addressing the challenges that face our employees. The year 2020 will not easily be forgotten and I know all of us are dealing with issues and stress on a variety of levels not only at work but in our personal lives. I hope you are managing well.
A few key points that stood out to me during the GMWLG event include:
- Network and empower others. We have to be cognizant of how we can be mentors and sponsors to those in our sphere of influence. This advice ties in with our value of service. We can look for and find opportunities to make a difference in the lives of those who work with us.
- Cultivate differences. We should invite people with diverse ideas and backgrounds to the table, which builds an environment of inclusion and belonging. It also helps us make better decisions. Our organization recently published our Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging strategy online and I invite you to study it and share your ideas: LHM.com/DIB. It’s important to look inward, reflect on our own values and knowledge, and then focus outward, finding ways to make a difference.
- Prepare yourself. Use opportunities in your education, your career and elsewhere to prepare yourself for things on the horizon. No one could have predicted the way this pandemic has altered our lives and our businesses, but by building foundations on values and experiences, we can calmly and successfully navigate our way through any challenge. One of our panelists for the GMWLG event was Utah’s lead epidemiologist, Dr. Angela Dunn. Her preparation over the course of her career positioned her to steadily inform and guide state decision-makers during COVID-19. We don’t need to wait for somebody to tell us it’s time to step up. We can be proactive and take the opportunity through our own effort and use what we learn and what we know to be able to help others.
- Adapt to the times. Our panelist from Intermountain Healthcare, Mikelle Moore, shared that she is constantly “remodeling” her life. I think we all have to do that in everything we do. There is a certain element of life that is constantly changing, and we have to adapt. We can always learn something new and we can always be flexible. “Remodeling” generally means “making improvements.”
- It’s our time. We don’t have to wait for anybody to say, “It’s your time,” because it is our time every single day. We can make a difference and we have the opportunity to do so right now. We can serve others, we can use our voices, we can lead, and we can innovate. Someone once said, “We can be the change we’d like to see.”
These gems of wisdom that our panelists shared are true for the events of today and down the road. Many of life’s events in 2020 have been cancelled or postponed. I hope we can use some of this freed up time to build our foundations and hone our skills to be nimble and opportunistic.
Please know that we are aware of you and that we are here for you. We know times are challenging and that life is uncertain. If you would like help with stress or anxiety, please use our free, confidential Employee Assistance Program at https://www.mutualofomaha.com/eap/. It’s available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Thank you for all you do!