“Surely there comes a time when counting the cost and paying the price aren’t things to think about any more. All that matters is value — the ultimate value of what one does.”
James Hilty, author
Think of a leader. No – not George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. Closer to home. Your mom. Your dad. A teacher. A coach. A boss. Someone who had a positive (or negative*) impact on who you are today. *Sure, it’s helpful to think of those people in leadership positions that weren’t good leaders. What did they do wrong – in our opinion – that affected us negatively? How did we adjust?
In general, good leaders excel at
– Empathy – they know what you’re thinking, and understand how you’re feeling
– Communication – they know what to say and how to say it for the right audience, and they listen
– Camaraderie – you know they’ll be right next to you in the thick of it
THEY DIDN’T DO IT FOR THE FAME
THEY DIDN’T DO IT FOR THE GLORY
Leaders pursue a vision and a purpose greater than themselves. They were selfless. Yes, we’re all human and we have our faults. But a true leader sees a better future, a better way, and takes action to make it so. A true leader gets out in front and leads by example, not by dictum.
What makes the person you thought of a good leader?
The American Subcontractors Association has a legacy of strong and selfless leaders. Jeff Banker, of Banker Insulation, was a leader in the ASA family, who in addition to growing his father’s insulation company into a leading contractor in the southwest, selflessly gave of his precious time to strengthen ASA in Arizona and served as national president from 2017-2018. Jeff passed away on September 2, 2020, after a long battle with cancer. We recognize that we stand on the shoulders of others, and ASA could not be where we are without Jeff’s leadership and dedication to making us stronger and better than before. Each of our presidents – our leaders – strive to take us to a better future.
Jeff was a passionate advocate and supporter of many industry and community organizations. In addition to leading roles in ASA, Jeff was involved in the Insulation Contractors Association of America, the National Insulation Contractor’s Exchange, and Fighter Country Partnership (a community group that supports Luke Air Force Base).
As this issue delves into our future leaders, there is a lot of discussion about motivation. Many people have a vision, but leaders also know they need others to help their vision become a reality. The examination of Gen-X, Millennials, Gen-Z, Baby Boomers…. While their formative years may be different, it’s the true leader who can communicate and motivate individuals, not stereotypes. They are truly “people persons” – knowing what to say, how to say it, when to say it, where to say it – to make the message understood and to be acted upon.
While we mourn Jeff’s passing, like any true leader, his legacy lives on through his sons, his colleagues, and those who treasure their memories of his humor, dedication, and ultimate value to humanity.
