No Matter What
Check on Your Buddy Day is June 17. What’s Your Plan?
By Suzanne St. John-Crane, Executive Director
May 8 marked my last day as the CEO of American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley; and our biggest event of the year – ALF Silicon Valley’s annual Exemplary Leadership Celebration, a sold out gala that honors two exceptional Senior Fellows and an extraordinary network. I was abuzz with emotions, and so excited to see 300 colleagues and friends gathering for this momentous occasion.
Board Member Jayne Battey generously organized a private reception for me prior to the formal festivities. When I walked into the room, I saw many familiar and friendly faces – but my eyes locked in on one. My buddy, Jim Koshland. Jim and I hadn’t really seen each other in years. We met on zoom a few times, and occasionally communicated by email. On May 8 however, seeing him brought memories of my Fellows year flooding back.
“As is the case with so many ALF Fellows, we realized that what we had in common was a desire to learn, fully live into our purpose and deepen our impact.”
Those Fellows experiences can’t be recreated. They happen in a finite, focused time that we as leaders dedicate to our own development. I remember moments, struggles, exponential growth and new awakenings during my Fellows year that changed the way I make decisions. I found a new depth to my relationship with the natural world, and to people, that frankly made me a better professional, partner and parent. Through it all, I had someone to lean on and learn from: Jim, my buddy.
I remember when Jim and I were matched up. I, a public television CEO with two little kids. He, a seasoned attorney and law firm executive preparing for retirement. What could we possibly have to talk about? We were tasked with taking a walk at our Orientation Retreat to get to know each other. As is the case with so many ALF Fellows, we realized that what we had in common was a desire to learn, fully live into our purpose and deepen our impact. Also – we were both fully “in,” and ready to show up for each other no matter what.
As I contemplate the kind of a commitment buddies make to each other, and Fellows make as a class, I’m struck by how necessary that kind of unconditional love and presence is in today’s world. With so much uncertainty and volatility in our political and societal landscapes, every one of us needs “buddies” – those that will pick up the phone no matter why we’re calling, and will do what they can to show up fully for us. Those special relationships are few and far between yet are critical to our refueling as leaders in these tumultuous times.
On June 17, we invite all ALFers to celebrate their buddies through a simple act:
1. Send a quick text or email just to say “Hey!”
2. Call to catch up and hear what’s new
3. Grab a cup of coffee
4. Meet for lunch or dinner and do a deep dive check-in
Let us know how it goes! Did you take a trip down memory lane? Get into an in-depth dialogue? Make plans to collaborate on something or see each other again?
Finally, think about this… How do I nurture other “buddy” relationships in my life? How can we be a buddy to more people, to my network? What changes as a result of my investment in real relationships? I’d love to hear.
Suzanne St. John-Crane
Executive Director
ALF National
Suzanne@alfnational.org