"I learn more from my team collectively than what I am able to teach them." - Richard Hansen | Human of KMS

"Growing up in California as a surfer, I learned that maintaining balance is very important. When surfing, we have a lot of things on our plate: currents, big waves, small waves, wind, riptides, and other surfers. We have to be attentive to the constantly shifting details and juggle everything at once to catch that wave. And I used to stutter a lot, speaking was very difficult for me. It made me think I couldn’t achieve anything, that I would always be limited. But when I dropped in on the wave and began to surf, I surprisingly saw my potential as I rode the wave down the line and into an unknown horizon. It showed me I was capable. That I had potential. The wave helped me see beyond my stutter. I also began to see potential in others. The relationship I had with that wave has not only helped me see my potential but how good relationships at work can have the same power of helping others see their potential. As a leader, I found that transforming and leading the team is all about walking the fine line between having empathy for your team while striving to achieve your business goals. I’m reminded daily to stay focused on what people have to offer and how I can help them see through to who they can become.

Typically, leaders, in general, see success in business as the first priority and companionship as a lucky side effect. They want to see the business thrive, and yes, they might generally “care” about their employees because they know it impacts revenue. In the US “companionship” has been viewed historically as quite a soft word. Business, for the most part, has been to simply get the job done.? But that has dramatically shifted over the years. The real reason is that the platform of leadership is realizing humans are hardwired to connect. They want relationships that nurture and grow them, and leadership is realizing the working environment can help the business, and the people thrive. There is a new and growing sentiment that leaders everywhere need to help their employees feel passionate and compelled by the work they do, while also keeping the morale high and engaging.?

I’m fully remote, working from Austin, Texas. I go to the Atlanta office one to two times a month and meet with our team and the clients. We try to see each other as much as possible through team events, client meetings, and even taking clients to an occasional baseball or soccer game. Maintaining strong relationships with my colleagues in hybrid working is something I put my heart into every day. I want to ensure the conversations I have or the content I send establishes a good tone, one that seeks to build mutual connections. In emails, I pay extra attention to how I write my messaging to make sure that they understand my intent because I am limited by non-verbal cues. We all know emails can be interpreted in totally different ways when that person is not there to use body language and facial gestures. Chat and Zoom are my helpful companions, not only for business but equally important for checking in with my colleagues. I want them to know I care about them both when they do well and when they make mistakes. I try to make sure I sound motivational. If I sound aggressive in tone and messaging, it could be off-putting to people. They might do the thing I ask of them, but they wouldn’t excel. They wouldn’t reach their potential.?

As the line between work and life has turned blurry since we entered the virtual world, trust has become even more important, and it takes more and more effort from all of us. We need to trust each other to do the right thing. I think if we seek the good in others and trust that our people will carry through, we will learn to trust them and, in turn, have them trust us. But we can’t simply tell them to trust us; we have to show how they can trust us. We have to earn that trust. When people feel trusted and think their workplace is a safe space, they learn and grow faster. Innovation then can become a cornerstone, and the business can truly grow.

“I need to take the lead but still be vulnerable with them so I can build trust and learn.”

As a leader over the last 20+ years, I’ve learned that I learn more from my team collectively than what I am able to teach them. They’ve trusted me and were supportive of my learning to be better, and in turn, I want to support them and their learning the best I can. That process has established many trusted relationships everywhere I’ve worked. However, sometimes we don’t always agree, but there is mutual respect for each other. When our intentions are good, we can navigate different viewpoints. Often when looking back, we end up laughing about it. At the end of the day, it is good intentions and trust in others that help us manage our conflicts. We wrestle together and we get frustrated, but we’ve learned to work through it and make the relationship even better; we trust that we are all driving each other towards good things.?

“It's the relationships at work that push us to thrive as a part of the company and, in turn, place them as a part of our life too.”

There’s a difference between having a job and being a part of a company, a community. We can choose to go to work, get it over, and call it a day. Or we can see that we are part of a team that together wants to learn, do an excellent job, and ultimately grow together. It’s the relationships that push us to thrive as a part of the company and, in turn, place them as a part of our life too. Good companionship at work helps us get through difficult times because we know that they want the best of us and for us. And they can be a sweet cause for us to still show up at work every day, too. ??"

#HumansofKMS #LifeatKMS #KMSCulture

Here, at KMS, we believe everyone has an unrevealed side or unexplored depth. And Humans of KMS is the project dedicated to letting their untold stories be told.?Read, be inspired & feel the culture of KMS!

View the full album here: https://tinyurl.com/HumanofKMS

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It was truly a great time talking to Rick. We were surprised by his down-to-earth personality, inspired by his humbleness, and empowered by his wise words. If you want to have the same experience as we did, hit this link to listen to Rick’s inspiring speech at TEDxRexburg.