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President's Report
With the passing of a good friend and mentor this past month, it has caused me to reflect a great deal on the importance of mentorship across the travel and tourism sector in Kansas. Sylvia Rice was one of many seasoned Kansas tourism leaders that took me under their wing when I was new to Kansas tourism, and with the enthusiasm of a cheerleader, she encouraged me to learn, explore, test my ideas, and, best of all, to laugh at some of the less-than-stellar outcomes that sometimes occur. Sylvia truly gave me wings, as she challenged me to grow.
As we roll into another busy summer of travel, I encourage each of you to take time to reach out to those that you admire to ask about mentorship. What do they do that you would like to learn? Maybe it is an event they host, their spectacular social media methods, or simply how they seem to remain calm in the wake of stress. We each have so much to learn from others…and so much to give in return.
I am an introvert by nature. I always tell people that one of the things I appreciate about my husband is that he is not. Craig can carry a conversation with anyone, about anything. He is outgoing and more fun than I ever considered being, and from him I have learned to be more confident and a better communicator. Mentors are all around us.
Just a few of my takeaways from mentorship have been:
- Increased self-confidence
- Stronger communication skills
- Mastering the art of delivering feedback
- Asking better questions
- Becoming a better listener
- Exposure to new and different perspectives
- Growing a personal network
- Increased job satisfaction
- Reduced levels of anxiety
- Leadership skill development
- Increased self-awareness
And I continue to learn and grow in all these areas. Aren’t we all a work in progress?
Before the summer flies by, I encourage each of you to determine an area you want to grow in and to make time this year to mentor and to be mentored –some of the best self-care and one of the best ways to grow your network of friends and colleagues. I also encourage you to write the note, send the text, make the phone call, or take time for coffee to say thanks to those that you simply could not have gotten by without. Life is so fragile, and we are not guaranteed a tomorrow to speak the unsaid.
To the Stars,
Holly Lofton
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