Happy Birthday to Colleen C. Barrett, founder of the Institute for Cultural Excellence & Customer Service

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Happy Birthday to Colleen C. Barrett, founder of the Institute for Cultural Excellence & Customer Service

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The Colleen C. Barrett Institute for Cultural Excellence & Customer Service

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newsletter hero sept 24

Learning Well: The Value of Prioritizing Personal Growth

When I began my career, I had one requirement: every day needed to look a little different. I craved exposure to new experiences and new projects (which is a polite way of saying I had no idea what I wanted to do and needed a job that would allow me to figure it out). What I realized, however, is my desire was not for constant change but constant learning. Southwest has been that perfect place for me.

Our Company Promise assures all Employees that it will not only provide job stability and support but also “equal opportunity for learning and personal growth.” No one championed the personal and professional advancement of our People more than Colleen Barrett (namesake of the CCB Institute). She believed investing in the individual was essential to the success of the Company. In her words, success is “…the determination to follow through on a vision, mission, or goal. The focus is on giving your all to get the best result, so everyone wins.” The question, then, is how do I consistently grow to get that best result?

While the experience may be different for each person, to me, it comes down to a few basic ideas:

  • Every interaction is an opportunity to learn. My most meaningful growth moments have come from observing others. How do they captivate an audience? How do they organize their thoughts to tell a story that leads to challenging dialogue? What questions are they asking that never crossed my mind? Always look for skills to add to your “toolbox.”
  • Be proactive with your own development. As a Leader, you have a responsibility to help develop your Team, but you must also prioritize your own growth. Take advantage of structured learning as well as the value of peer review. When I had the privilege of participating in Southwest’s High Impact Leader II Program, I received open feedback from my Leader, peers, and Team. While sometimes uncomfortable, honest feedback can also reveal unintended “blind spots.”
  • Learning is lifelong. In fact, life is a series of lessons, whether we want them or not. So be intentional about how you grow and what you learn. View challenges as preparation for improvement. Ask questions, then listen. Don’t shy away from the unknown when it comes to learning. Even the best experts are perpetual students.

At Southwest, the most impactful Leaders I’ve known are continuous learners. They have a constant curiosity about the “how’s” and “why’s” of what happens to—and around—them. This focus on intentional learning and personal growth translates to advocacy for the development of others and preparation for meeting the ever-changing needs of businesses, communities, and the world around us. Happy learning!

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Helen Jury

Senior Manager Employee Experience

View Thought Leaders Recommended Resources

Do you have questions for our Southwest Leaders about what it means to Lead Well? For a limited time, you will have the opportunity to submit your questions for a Southwest Thought Leader to answer in our next Virtual Fireside Chat.

Submit your questions in the box below, and be sure to keep an eye out for an email announcing the opening of registration for the Virtual Fireside Chat!

newsletter hero sept 24
Helen Jury

Learning Well: The Value of Prioritizing Personal Growth

When I began my career, I had one requirement: every day needed to look a little different. I craved exposure to new experiences and new projects (which is a polite way of saying I had no idea what I wanted to do and needed a job that would allow me to figure it out). What I realized, however, is my desire was not for constant change but constant learning. Southwest has been that perfect place for me.

Read More
august newsletter hero 8 30 24
Brendan Conlon

Learning Well: Growing Through Difficult Moments

My 38 years at Southwest have been a journey filled with immense gratitude. I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of strong leadership and the profound impact it has on an organization and its people, especially when facing adversity. Through the years, I’ve experienced my share of challenges, and one lesson I learned early on from Colleen Barrett (namesake of the CCB Institute) was that the defining factor in navigating storms is the quality of leadership at the helm.

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nov22 newsletter
Mike Sims

Learning Well: Effectively Growing Diverse Teams

In today’s workplace, effectively growing and managing diverse Teams is paramount to success. Southwest Airlines President Emeritus, the late Colleen Barrett, mastered this principle, and I am blessed to be able to apply her lessons firsthand from seeing years of her “walking the talk.”

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