Remake of Investing in People - Reflection_08.21.25 by Melinda Spooner

melinda148 — 2025-08-21 16:51:14 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.

2025-08-21 18:56:49 UTC

Gave me a growth promotion and trusted that I would be able to figure it out! That trust made me want to perform.

2025-08-21 18:57:09 UTC

Someone took me aside (out for a walk) and shared how I needed to step up my leadership on a project which was affecting a 3rd person (their supervisee). She reminded me of my own power in the org and pushed me to do better by this 3rd person.

2025-08-21 18:57:10 UTC

My first manager ever! Truly changed my life. We had some hard times where there was tough feedback, but she always saw potential in me to grow and truly believed in me.

2025-08-21 18:57:12 UTC

My manager and team let me take on an experience outside of work that felt really fulfilling for me personally and professionally, even though it was hard for our company.

2025-08-21 18:57:15 UTC

Manager would spend the time to talk through ideas and processes, whenever I was stuck. They really invested the focus, attention, and time to make me feel seen and supported.

2025-08-21 18:57:17 UTC

Encouraging growth by assisting and encouraging with applying for a promotion I was not sure i was capable of. He believed that I was capable and that made my own belief in the possibility grow.

2025-08-21 18:57:17 UTC

My manager elevated me and my voice in external meetings and was generous in connecting me across her network.

2025-08-21 18:57:32 UTC

My then-manager said as we were scaling up we needed me to focus on our core program and asked what I needed to make this happen - flagged how our core program had had issues in fall because my attention was divided (was part-time, had multiple roles) and said all options were on the table organizationally and financially and to get back to him with a suggestion. We eventually expanded the size of my role by 50% but it also significantly communicated to me that my attention was needed and how to tighten up.

2025-08-21 18:57:32 UTC

Manager helped me to see that I was taking too much responsibility for my team's performance, and that with a more structured approach, I could support them in their development without burning out.

2025-08-21 18:57:33 UTC

Manager collaborated with me as the agency grew and my role needed to change. Invested in my but also allowed me to invest back in the organization as I took on more official responsibilities.

2025-08-21 18:57:37 UTC

My current manager is fantastic. She is really good at balancing both positive and constructive feedback. She celebrates my wins, works through issues with me and is also good at hard feedback when its necessary. That investment is helpful both in my growth as an employee but also really models good things for me to become a better manager too.

2025-08-21 18:58:24 UTC

I had an unexpected family loss that I learned about at work. I was heavily in denial and wanted to stay at the office and keep working on a project, worried that if I didn't, my client would have bad consequences. My colleagues pressured me (in a positive way) to take the day and next two weeks off and took over the project.

2025-08-21 18:58:33 UTC

They were willing to ask me what I want to focus on, allow me to make decisions, trust me, and encouraged me to do my best work. Even when there were mistakes along the way, feedback was not made personally about who I am, but about the task at hand.

2025-08-21 18:58:38 UTC

In a previous job that I loved, I was not making enough money in the role. My boss went to the board and pleaded the case for a management-level role for me, which was approved and came with a higher salary. When I "outgrew" that one, she served as a reference for me when I applied for a director-level role with my current organization.

2025-08-21 18:58:44 UTC

A former boss gave me the opportunity to work on a challenging project that was a bit outside the scope of what I (or really anyone else at the office) had done before. This made me feel very trusted, and it gave me a chance to learn about something new and develop new skills.

2025-08-21 18:59:11 UTC

Entry into the master's program that led to my current job required an internship. I was accepted and for the next several years my mentor spent a lot of time training me. Totally voluntarily. She got me into graduate school and I've paid this forward as often as possible.