Lead UNITED

During this session Matt shared invaluable insights on conflict resolution and effective communication, emphasizing the importance of viewing conflict as an opportunity for connection and realignment.

Key takeaways from the event included:

1. Seeing conflict as a chance to strengthen relationships
2. Effective communication strategies during important discussions
3. A simple, memorable tool to guide us through conflict resolution

Participants left equipped with tools to embrace conflict as a catalyst for positive change, turning tension into opportunities for connection, collaboration, and meaningful outcomes. Let’s embrace conflict as a pathway to deeper understanding and collaboration.

Thank you, Matt, for the thoughtful session!

In this session we learned about two different types of leaders. The first use their intelligence to amplify the capabilities of others. The second drain intelligence from those around them. We explored how to create and maintain a productive and engaged culture, while also unpacking the disciplines that distinguish those who get the most from others from those who drain their energy.

Thank you for this engaging and informative session, Lindsey!

If you’ve ever met Kurtis Karn or Eric Piela, you know they will bring the energy! This event was bright and exciting as we heard from the Neon Unicorns sharing their expertise on personal branding. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and time with the United Way of Cass-Clay Lead UNITED network!

Here are a few of the many takeaways from the session:

1. Prioritize investing in your personal brand and in yourself.
2. Only 6% of people can fully accept a compliment at work. Be secure in your expertise to know your strengths and weaknesses.
3. One of the most important things is to be able to market yourself.
4. In order to figure out your own “brand recipe” you need purpose, personality, professional proficiencies, sprinkled with some *sparkle*

Thank you, Neon Unicorns, for the electric session!

The spirit of volunteerism is strong and so is our Lead UNITED network! Wow, what an impact! Thanks to our 400+ volunteers we completed more than 1,350 hours of volunteer time which equates to a value of $45,212 for our community during United Way Day of Action – AMAZING!

Volunteers worked to complete much-needed projects, raise awareness around community issues that impact us all, and helped our neighbors in need at area non-profits: Boys and Girls Club, CAPLP, CHI Friendship, CHI Riverview Place, Churches United, Fargo Parks, Farm in the Dell, Furniture Mission, Great Plains Food Bank, Immigrant Development Center, Jeremiah Program, Moorhead Area Schools, New Life Center, Nexus Path, Presentation Prayer Center, River Keepers, Ronald McDonald House Charities, SENDCAA, United Way of Cass Clay, YMCA, and YWCA Cass-Clay. The volunteer work varied from painting projects to gardening to facility cleaning to food packaging and so much more! We are so incredible grateful for all our volunteers who took the time to give, learn, and help during this monumental day!

Together, we made a difference and truly LIVED UNITED.

Did you know, people that know their Working Genius show up to work happier, more effective and work better with others. It’s true – our Working Genius magnifies the “work” we find fulfillment in and perhaps the work we find draining. Understanding how we best show up and how others around us best show up helps our teams become more innovative, strategic, and productive. As Connor would say, “people should study people more” and the Working Genius does just that!

The Working Genius is based on 6 different “types” of work that appear in 3 different “phases” of work. The kicker – is it’s impossible to find fulfillment in all 6 “types”. No “Genius” is better than the other. Despite our differences we all need each other and it’s up to us to create mature collaboration.

So what type of work fulfills you? I encourage you to find out.
Wonder
Invention
Discernment
Galvanizing
Enablement
Tenacity

Thank you again Connor! You truly captivated the room with this session and that’s coming from a “Galvanizer” 😉.

If you’ve ever met Jessica Hoeper, you know her energy is magnetic! It was such a pleasure to have her present and share her expertise on Embodied Emotional Intelligence with our United Way of Cass-Clay Lead UNITED network!

There were so many amazing takeaways from this session, here are just a few of our favorites:

• Self-awareness is a journey, not a destination: While 95% of people believe they are self-aware, research suggests only 10-15% truly are. Emotional intelligence is a skill that requires constant practice and growth. Thankfully, life offers us endless opportunities to learn and improve.
• Our feelings are data, not facts: Acknowledge your emotions, but don’t let them control you. As Jess said, “You can be frustrated without becoming frustrated.”
• There are four domains of EQ: Emotional intelligence is multifaceted, encompassing self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.
• Embodied emotional awareness requires flexibility: Being attuned to your emotions and how they manifest in your body is crucial. It also requires the ability to adapt your thinking and responses to different situations.
• Leaders with embodied EQ lead to higher performing teams: Studies show that leaders with strong EQ foster more collaborative and successful teams.
• Empathy is crucial to boosting morale in teams: By understanding and acknowledging the emotions of others, leaders can create more positive and supportive work environments.

Thank you, Jess, for the insightful session!

Together, we gathered with the purpose of practicing and inspiring kindness in our community and in turn we were able to create 575 Celebration Care-Kits! It’s incredible what we can accomplish when we all come together and Live UNITED! Thanks to the Great Plains Food Bank, these kits will soon be on their way to local food pantries with the goal of sparking joy and helping individuals and families celebrate those special milestones in their lives. ❤

A sincere thank you, we couldn’t have done this without you!

I also want to again give another shoutout to all the amazing partnerships that were essential for this event to happen. Thank you to our year-round Lead UNITED program sponsors, West Acres Mall for allowing us the space to gather, Heyer Engineering our Brewing Up Kindness Partner this year, Cash Wise for their continued support in ensuring we have all our supplies needed to create these kits, Crafty Taps our beverage sponsor, Short Printer our card provider, Coca-Cola our pop provider and ALL the businesses and individuals who donated, hosted drives, bought supplies and raised awareness for this cause. It takes a village, and you are the core of bringing this event together – thank you!

More meetings. More commitments. More responsibilities. More seniority. More power. More money. Is it worth it? Do we actually want that? Have we really stopped to think about it? In this session, we we’re invited to step off of the hamster wheel and pause to evaluate what success really means to us.

A huge thank you to Laura Caroon for giving our United Way of Cass-Clay 2024 Lead UNITED programming an incredible kickstart! In a world that often screams “more, more, more,” Laura’s message was a beautiful reminder: We are enough, exactly as we are.

Our worth, doesn’t depend on our achievements, the size of our homes, or the curated perfection of our Instagram stories. Our true value lies in our hearts, our connections, and the positive impact we make on the world around us.

Takeaways:

• Celebrate your successes! Every win, big or small, deserves a moment of recognition. Acknowledge your hard work and let yourself feel proud.
• Allow yourself to take a break. We’re not machines, pushing ourselves too hard can lead to burnout. Recharge your batteries by taking time for relaxation and activities you enjoy. (Pro-tip for all you overachievers out there, this will in turn lead to more productivity.)
• Have the courage and curiosity to explore and do the things you want to do. Life is full of possibilities, so don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try new things.
• You are more than what you do. Your work is inherent, not dependent on your job title, your productivity, or any external measure. Embrace your authentic self and shine your light brightly.

Thank you, Laura, for inspiring us to embrace our authentic selves and lead with kindness and compassion in 2024.