Investing in People - Reflection_07.14.25 by Melinda Spooner

melinda148 — 2025-07-14 16:36:27 UTC

Manager was willing to give me tough feedback. I didn't love it at the time, but realized later that her willingness to have a tough conversation with me was a gift. it helped me move forward in my role when I otherwise would have been stuck.

2025-07-14 19:07:11 UTC

Person trusted me and gave me an opportunity that was being my capacity at the time and inspired me to step up.

2025-07-14 19:07:26 UTC

Because you've gained some experience the past two years, I'm going to grant you some autonomy in the years to come.

2025-07-14 19:07:42 UTC

Manager was invested in my job search and shared connections and networked alongside me.

2025-07-14 19:07:43 UTC

Manager stayed up late with me editing a presentation to get it to the level they expected. They also shared tough to hear feedback with me, but I'm glad I asked

2025-07-14 19:07:57 UTC

Saying they can tell I've outgrown the role and wanting to set me up for success in advancing to my next role. I appreciated the honesty, it validated how I was feeling.

2025-07-14 19:08:00 UTC

So many- the time people took to talk to me, teach me new skills. The times people advocated for me and saw my potential and not who I was just that day. Ensuring my org made professional development and travel dollars available so I could grow my skills, etc.

2025-07-14 19:08:05 UTC

Inviting me to meetings with donors so that I could shadow, experience, and learn how to cultivate stewardship and make an ask, even though it was not yet part of my job responsibility.

2025-07-14 19:08:11 UTC

One manager/mentor was especially good at helping me identify areas for growth. I felt seen and heard in terms of what I was already skilled at, and encouraged to take on new tasks/responsibilities in areas I likely wouldn't have chosen on my own

2025-07-14 19:08:12 UTC

My supervisor helps me think about ways to grow my program and my own professional development. Several supervisors have given me feedback on things I need to stop doing to be more successful!

2025-07-14 19:08:14 UTC

A mentor of mine nominated me for a year-long leadership cohort program. It changed my life, my relationships, and my reach as a leader. I eventually ended up as the Executive Director of the leadership organization, which was a huge catapult for my career and my lovely network of people.

2025-07-14 19:08:15 UTC

When I did a total career switch from marketing to teaching, I had an incredible Director who modeled for me, and gave me validation that my instincts were on the right track and I had made the right career shift. Because of her, I am still in education 20 years later.

2025-07-14 19:08:18 UTC

One of my first work experiences was in college, where I worked in the Office of Overseas Study. I was managed by a wonderful group of women who continually allowed me to take on new projects and learn new things. They were so invested in me that even though I couldn't afford to go on a study abroad trip, they conspired amongst themselves, and with the director, to find a way for me to go. I've never forgotten them!

2025-07-14 19:08:19 UTC

I transitioned from being a long term contractor (a position in which I did not get any feedback from my manager) to coming on staff and working with a new manager who consistently pushes me to structure effective check ins with pre-reads, develop vision statements for my team, and have 2x2 feedback conversations each quarter. It is somewhat uncomfortable because I'm not used to spending so much time thinking about my own development, but I'm learning a lot and I can bring this to my staff too.

2025-07-14 19:08:26 UTC

During a year-end performance review, my manager (a) gave positive feedback that I was on the right track, and (b) brought up feedback from own my self-assessment that concerned her re: my feelings that the role was not sustainable. She invited me to share some solutions to make my role feel more sustainable. Even more importantly, she demonstrated openness to try out the solutions I shared.

2025-07-14 19:08:26 UTC

A former manager would pass along speaking opportunities she could not participate in to me. It was a huge sign of her trust in me. She helped me prepare for the different opportunities and assisted in establishing my presence in our field.

2025-07-14 19:08:30 UTC

There was a manager, who wasn't my direct supervisor, who was willing to sit down with me and work on skills that I knew I needed to excel in my job. This manager knew me as an intern and took time to make sure I was able to do my job to the best of my ability by also being an ear and offering guidance.

2025-07-14 19:08:33 UTC

My boss recognized strengths I had in certain areas, and promoted me, providing more autonomy, responsibility, and support to succeed in the role.

2025-07-14 19:08:38 UTC

I was applying for a new role in the company and didn't have any formal training in marketing. Our CEO enrolled me in a sales training course that allowed me to earn a certificate in sales mastery, which boosted my confidence.

2025-07-14 19:08:43 UTC

People being willing to have coffee chats with me and set me up with people they knew internally to get my name out there.

2025-07-14 19:08:47 UTC

A manager went out of her way to accommodate my schedule and work committments to allow me to prepare for the bar exam, even though it did not benefit the company where I was working at the time and my success meant I would be leaving to pursue a different career.

2025-07-14 19:08:56 UTC

New manager saw my potential and created a space to give me 1:1 training and also to invest on me by encouraging to take the SHRM exam

2025-07-14 19:09:04 UTC

Years ago, my manager noticed I was struggling in my role and talked to me about shifting me into a role on the team that leveraged the skills I was good at. It was hard because I felt I had failed, but she believed in me and gave me a shot to try something different, but related to my field. That too was a gift!

2025-07-14 19:09:07 UTC

My Board of Directors told me I had what it takes to be a great leader, but was a little rough in my communications. They invested in coaching and strategic leadership trainings and I learned and improved so much- this was 8 years ago and I still work for the same organization and am grateful for the investment in me.

2025-07-14 19:09:11 UTC

A manager encouraged me to own my new role and create new structures without our org, and she always had my back in conversations with our executive director, so I could act with confidence knowing I had an ally

2025-07-14 19:09:12 UTC

Looked beyond my CV and saw that my skills could be applicable to this position; gave me a chance when I didn't have work experience in this specific role previously.

2025-07-14 19:09:14 UTC

Colleagues who have trusted and leaned on the value I bring to the work -- and shared with others. They were inadvertently being my cheerleader and helping me feel confident in doing the work.

2025-07-14 19:09:20 UTC

They gave me the autonomy to do the job but also made sure I had the tools, support, and space to figure things out. I always felt like I could ask questions or make mistakes without judgment.

2025-07-14 19:09:21 UTC

I was selected for a student leadership program in college that required a lot of resources from the university, and it helped me to develop a sense of ethical expectations in leadership roles and employment. It set me on a path to continual development and growth, and I am so grateful that influential people wasted their time with 18-yr-old me!!

2025-07-14 19:09:43 UTC

Put me in positions to take the lead with external partners and develop my confidence

2025-07-14 19:10:01 UTC

A colleague who used to be my direct supervisee, after she moved to a peer-role to me, gave me some of the best feedback about how if I wanted to accomplish the big, bold vision that I articulated regularly, then I needed to find a way to bring more people along. I'd go farther even if it felt slower than going alone. She was right and it helped me reconsider my attitude as a supervisor and leader.

2025-07-14 19:10:21 UTC

My first manager in my current took a chance on me and my limioted experience and helped understand the role and how to develop along the way.

2025-07-14 19:10:33 UTC

A manager made sure I had access to other colleagues in my field who were going through similar challenges as me, to make sure that I had people to think things through with since we did not at our own org. That thoughtfulness really helped me grow and also helped me work better as a collaborator with other orgs.

2025-07-14 19:10:37 UTC

Provided me with leadership development opportunities and media training

2025-07-14 19:10:41 UTC

I have been given so many opportunities for growth, that it's hard to choose just one. They have seemed to build off of one another. The first one was being hired for a job that I wasn't sure I would be considered for...I feel like I've really grown into my role and have enjoyed the challenges along the way.

2025-07-14 19:10:42 UTC

I was a 15 year old kid working my first "office job" and my supervisor sat me down after witnessing a conversation I had with a an adult from another area and said "let's talk about being tactful because you will need it for the rest of your life". That conversation has stayed with me throughout my career and I have "used" it with others that I have managed.