KNOW YOURSELF and what you stand for and where you are headed.

You must understand who you are before you can decide who you want to be. Take stock of your strengths and weaknesses and understand your limitations. Set realistic goals for yourself, keeping in mind that a balance between work and life makes for a healthy leader. Maintain your own morals, values and ethics, so you can hold yourself to the high standards you set. Unleash the leader within you, taking control of your career and steering it in the precise direction you want to go.

COMMUNICATE with passion and poise, in writing and in person.

The strongest communicators do more than just talk. Aspire to deliver a speech powerful enough to inspire an entire auditorium or to put pen to paper in such a way that others can be rallied into action through the power of your words. Learn to negotiate for the best possible outcomes with both logic and compassion. The ability to do all this will make you a communicator who embodies conviction and passion – qualities a great leader needs to succeed.

LISTEN with more than just your ears.

Strive to be an active listener who processes what is being conveyed and learn from people through their words. It is by listening with your heart, as well as your head, that you will build lasting relationships strengthening your cohort and helping others around you to grow along the way.

CONNECT to your peers, your industry and everything around you.

You cannot move forward without a keen understanding of your network – the people you work with and the industry you work in. Immerse yourself in the economics and business practices that affect your company, clients and colleagues. Keep your ear to the ground. Be aware of your competition and gain the upper hand. Build a support system for yourself and those within your community. Great leaders get connected and stay connected, using every ounce of information to their advantage.

BE A CATALYST and set the wheels of change in motion.

Progress is never made by standing still or by relying on the same old ideas. As a leader, you must push the envelope to transform our industry with innovative concepts that are bigger and better than ever before. Take initiative. Raise the bar. Demand equality on all fronts and embrace diversity. Above all, never accept less respect than you offer others because change can only take hold if it is grounded in respect.

BE FEARLESS and confident in your convictions as you take risks and bring others along.

To be a great leader, look fear in the eye and turn it to your advantage as the force driving you into uncharted territory. Use the adrenaline to keep climbing the corporate ladder. Don’t surrender or retreat. Commit to your vision and believe in it above everything else. Others will sense your conviction and be willing to follow – without fear.​

INSPIRE and others will follow.

Rally those around you to support your vision. Be a mentor, a guide and a role model — one who learns from what she teaches. Help those around you achieve their full potential with a helping hand that paves the way for future leaders. Be dynamic and strong, and you will inspire others to embrace your vision as the one they want to be part of, and the one they choose to follow.

In 2021, The WICT Network: Heartland hosted the first Touchstone Awards as an opportunity for our members to recognize chapter peers who demonstrate the Touchstones of Leadership.

Nominees for these awards actively enhance the perception of the media, entertainment and technology industry through their community and professional involvement. Presenting a nominee in the best light is essential to submitting an eye-catching and appealing nomination. To grab the attention of the judges, the following tips are recommended.

• Follow the rules: Read the instructions and award descriptions carefully. The information requested provides guidance to the judges and allows them to better understand each nominee. Make sure to submit the nomination by the stated deadline, keep each answer within the 500-word limit, and verify the nominee is an active member of The WICT Network: Heartland in good standing who personifies The WICT Network Touchstones of Leadership.
• Interview the nominee: Gather more details for the nomination by asking the nominee how they characterize their greatest accomplishments or unique ways they contribute to the company, industry or community. Ask questions noted in the award description and listen for responses to support your ideas.
• Be organized and thorough: Judges are reviewing multiple entries, so make their job easier by being clear and thoughtful in your choice of wording. Remember to focus on key aspects of the award category and describe the nominee’s leadership abilities and contributions to their organization, community and industry. Only information included in the nomination will be considered throughout the judging process. A well-written nomination that meets the award criteria helps the judges to know each nominee and why they may be the best candidate for the award.
• State the extraordinary: Does your nominee stand out? What makes them exceptional? The judges need to understand how the nominee went above and beyond the daily responsibilities of the job. Be sure to include more than one example.
• Show meaningful results: Be sure to measure your results against your stated objectives and include measurable results to document improvement or change, such as revenue generation, cost reduction or number of clients served. For instance, rather than stating “we gained 1,000 customers” replace it with “we gained 1,000 customers, a 50% improvement over last year’s campaign.”
• Think diversity: When selecting a nominee, consider those throughout all areas of your organization. These are individuals who had an exceptional year or stepped into greater responsibility and created value for the organization.
• Consult public relations: Your media relations, corporate communications and public affairs departments are very familiar with submitting award nominations. They communicate on behalf of your company daily, so if you have never written an award nomination, consider asking for advice and help with the submission.