Hello! My name is Cathy and I love to inspire people to be their best. I am a Professional Life Coach, Consultant, Mediator and Trainer. I also worked in the Public Sector for over 20 years which inspired me to start up a “Motivating Workplace” website.
Throughout my career I have had many excellent supervisors who helped me discover and develop my skills. Based on those experiences I have become an expert at motivating and developing staff, and at training others to be effective in that area. This is an area of passion for me. I believe that creating an environment that allows authentic self-expression and fun, promotes a productive work environment
Some of my strengths include empowering, developing, and inspiring employees, peer educators/interns, and staff throughout the organization to deliver exceptional organizational programs. Some of my expertise include: program development, implementation, and management (Citywide Employee, Intern and Career Mentoring programs, Leadership Academy, Citywide Training, Recognition and Collaborative Resolution Programs).I love developing the next generation of leaders through training, leadership opportunities, on the job development, progressive assignments, individualizing development, and knowledge capture. I am a problem solver who looks for opportunities to create efficiencies and maximize resources. I am creative, insightful, fun, vibrant, with outstanding interpersonal, team-building, and leadership skills. Check out my LinkedIn profile for more information on my career and skills.
On a personal note, I have completed four (4) marathons but now enjoy walking at least 13,000 steps a day! I love hearing the sound of the ocean and watching the waves crash, visiting with friends, eating fish tacos and drinking a good beer, watching dog videos, and researching important topics on the internet.
For more personal information on my career path, and how support from my motivating supervisors helped me gain confidence and leadership skills, please read below.
I started out as a Recreation Leader when I was in college. I was able to work with children and teach them how to interact with others, play and have fun! When I finished college, I wanted a new challenge. I got a job in the same Parks and Recreation department as Recreation Specialist and then a Recreation Supervisor. I remember having an amazing boss, Dave, who taught me to see the best in people. He said that everyone had a gift and if you focused on their strengths and not their weaknesses, you would create an amazing workplace. I was able to inspire and bring out Recreation Leader’s talents and confidence and bring out the best in them. Dave believed in me as a leader before I believed in myself and I will never forget how he helped me grow into the leader that I am today.
I was lucky enough to have a few more supervisors who saw gifts in me and helped bring out my strengths even when I didn’t see them yet. My wonderful mentor, Barbara, saw me as a Trainer, so she allowed me to train other Recreation Leaders. I grew so much working with her and ended up being the Citywide Training Manager years later in Human Resources. Another supervisor Traci believed in having fun while working hard. She also believed in being really honest. I could trust her because she had my best interest at heart even when she had to say things that I might not want to hear.
I had many more supervisors throughout my career; all of them being very different. Hewitt had a great deal of trust in me and let me run my youth programs. He didn’t micro-manage. Hewitt believed in me and encouraged my leadership. Virgina believed that I could create and manage a Citywide Employee Mentoring Program. She brought me over from PRNS to HR where I was awarded a Council Commendation for creating the Citywide Mentoring Program. Another manager Brooke believed in celebration. He always took time out to celebrate accomplishments with our team. Kelly had a million ideas and allowed her team to be innovative. She allowed me to use my creativity and try out some very unique trainings. Eileen, who was a straight talker, pushed me to my absolute best. She was rigorous but had compassion. I could trust her because she always had my back. She was one of my best managers in my career. That is why I want to work with her now!
Valerie, my next supervisor had amazing gifts of flexibility and listening. I could share about any issues and she would just listen. She also trusted my judgement and didn’t micro-manage. My final supervisor Ingrid trusted me to do my work and didn’t micromanage. She was a straight talker too.
Throughout the years, I found it so interesting that a supervisor or leader had the power to “make” or “break” a team. If a supervisor believed in his staff, took the time to mentor and coach, amazing results were produced. When a supervisor didn’t believe in his/her staff and focused on micro-managing and discipline, the whole attitude of the team was different. I once had a manager who actually asked me “What do you do anyways? I want you to be a “working supervisor”. I guess they didn’t consider coaching, leadership development, training, running meetings, doing one on ones, writing quarterly reports, interviewing, hiring, documenting/SOP’s, reviewing staff work, etc., actual work ( ha ha- I will never understand this one) This manager questioned everyone and you can tell the motivation of the entire department was low and not as productive as before.
All of my experience leads me here today. I know what works and doesn’t work. My experience as a Citywide Trainer Manager, Professional Life Coach, Mediator, Trainer and Consultant has also helped me support managers and organizations to create leaders, build engaging teams, and to create a motivating workplace.
Visit my other websites too!