{"product_id":"the-heartled-leader-isbn-9780553419030","title":"The Heart-Led Leader","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author Tommy Spaulding shows you how looking inwards--and leading with your heart--can transform your life. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn his \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller, \u003ci\u003eIt’s Not Just Who You Know\u003c\/i\u003e, world renowned leadership speaker and former CEO of Up with People Tommy Spaulding talked about the power of building genuine and lasting relationships both personally and professionally. In \u003ci\u003eThe Heart-Led Leader\u003c\/i\u003e, Spaulding turns his focus to ourselves--to who we are. Authentic leaders, Spaulding says, live and lead from the heart. The values and principles that guide our lives and shape our ability to lead others is far more important than our title, or our ability to crunch numbers, or the impressive degrees we display on our walls.  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eTo effect true transformational change, heart-led leaders draw on the qualities of humility, vulnerability, transparency, empathy and love. Illustrated with stories from his own life, and from some of the exceptional leaders he has met and worked with over the years, Spaulding unpacks what those qualities mean, talks about the 18-inch journey from the head to the heart--from our intellect to our emotions--and shows us how to incorporate them into our careers, into how we manage and lead others, and into how we live our lives. It is a vision of leadership that has the power to transform everything we do, and the lives of everyone we touch.“The Heart-Led Leader is full of heart - and full of stories about real leaders whose courageous examples will inspire you. If you put the principles in this book into practice, it will not only change your life and your organization, but also make the world a better place.” \u003cb\u003e-- Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and To Sell is Human\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I’m a big fan of Tommy Spaulding. Why? First, because he and I are both believers in heart-led leadership. Like servant leadership, it’s all about love and service to others. Also, Tommy is a great storyteller—and he has filled this book with true, inspiring stories about heart-led leaders. The Heart-Led Leader is a book after my own heart.”  \u003cb\u003e-- Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The New One Minute Manager®\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I will be a better leader having read this book and it has solidified in my HEART forever that who I am matters the most – especially to the people who choose to follow me.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e-- Donnie Smith, President \u0026amp; CEO, Tyson Foods\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"One of my dad's favorite sayings was, ‘If you fall in love with your work you will never have to work again.' He repeated it often because he knew that love is not only the key to a fulfilling career; it’s a catalyst for continued success in business. In The Heart-Led Leader, Tommy unpacks this truth and, through real-world examples, clearly illustrates his own explanation, that, 'Love and results are not opposites. They are two sides of the same coin.' I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking to become a better leader, in the most effective way.” \u003cb\u003e-- Dan T. Cathy, Chairman \u0026amp; CEO, Chick-fil-A\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The most important journey you can make is a mere 18-inches in length… from your Head to your Heart. Tommy Spaulding shows us how important it is to add ‘love’ to your leadership style. The Heart-Led Leader is a ‘must read’ for everyone. The lessons in this book will change you, change your organization and most definitely change the world.\" \u003cb\u003e-- Margaret M. Kelly, former Chief Executive Officer, RE\/MAX World Headquarters\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A powerful read that can profoundly change the way you approach leading any team. The inspiring stories in The Heart-Led Leader give clear examples of how others have transformed their companies by leading with the heart. A must read for everyone in my organization.” \u003cb\u003e-- John Ruble, Global VP - Sales Operations \u0026amp; Talent Development, Marriott Vacations Worldwide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The Heart-Led Leader will not only help you become the person you want to be – it will help you become the person that you know you should be. Follow Tommy’s lessons and it will not only change your life, but those that you serve and lead.\" \u003cb\u003e-- Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times bestselling author of Triggers, MOJO and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The Heart-Led Leader brilliantly captures the essence of building extraordinary teams: the matrix of caring and unselfish, trust-your-life relationships. Flawless performance matters in human spaceflight, but at the end of the day heart-guided leadership is what really drives mission success.” \u003cb\u003e-- Colonel Rick Searfoss, Astronaut and Space Shuttle Commander, author of Liftoff\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This book holds the keys to driving bottom line results through what Tommy Spaulding calls, Heart-Led Leadership. These stories will challenge you to balance your bright mind with an engaged heart – a leadership approach that will help you love those you lead.” \u003cb\u003e--Cheryl Bachelder, CEO, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. and author of Dare to Serve\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Tommy Spaulding teaches us in his new book, The Heart-Led Leader, what I have always believed and practiced, which is, you must go through the heart to reach the brain. Leaders who practice this approach will achieve far greater results and leave a legacy of excellence in all parts of their life.” \u003cb\u003e--Lee Cockerell, Former Executive Vice President, Walt Disney World® Resort and author of Creating Magic\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"There are few differentiators left in business. In \"The Heart-Led Leader\" Tommy Spaulding explores how leaders who lead with heart not only create work places that are inspiring but that deliver superior results. If you want to become a better leader you need to read this book!\"\u003cbr\u003e-\u003cb\u003e- Chester Elton, New York Times bestselling author of The Carrot Principle, All In, and What Motivates Me\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Inspiring and persuasive. Tommy gives real-life examples on how leaders have changed their lives, their businesses and their communities, by living their principles of leading through the ‘heart.’” \u003cb\u003e--Hoyt Jones, President, Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The real-life examples of “Heart-Led Leadership” are not only inspiring but could be a game changer in our lives and in our organizations if put into practice. Tommy’s philosophy of connecting with and caring for others is the key to being a powerful leader.” \u003cb\u003e-- Scott Sibella, President \u0026amp; COO, MGM Grand\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The Heart-Led Leader wonderfully proves that love and leadership are not only deeply interconnected, but the seeds for extraordinary results.\" \u003cb\u003e--Dylan Taylor, Global COO, Colliers International\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I first met Tommy through the organizational transformation work he specializes in. As the CEO of a company that doubles every few years, my team lives his message. Our work is extremely dangerous: I’ve led teams to the summits of Mount Everest, K2 and more than 100 other peaks on 5 continents. You have to know who you are, since the consequences of being less than the very best “you” can be fatal.\" \u003cb\u003e--Chris Warner, CEO, Earth Treks, Inc and author of High Altitude Leadership\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Tommy's real-life and compelling stories of heart-led leadership illuminate the very core of your soul. This 18-inch \"love wins\" credo inspires you to place loving and serving others center stage. A must read for anyone who is held accountable for bottom-line results.\" \u003cb\u003e--Jayne Hladio, Senior Vice President \u0026amp; Regional Executive, U.S. Bank\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“We live in a business environment that is extraordinarily complicated and in constant flux. Although critical thinking and astute strategy are crucial for success, both are useless without connecting back to the source for all great ideas: the heart. Tommy Spaulding reminds us of this truth and provides specific ways that we can journey those 18 critical inches from our heads to our hearts.\" \u003cb\u003e-- John O'Leary, founder, RisingAbove and author of On Fire\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The Heart-Led Leader is in the top 2 leadership books of the last decade. I believe it will launch a movement that will transform leadership philosophy forever.\" \u003cb\u003e--Rick Barrera, bestselling author of Overpromise and Overdeliver\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Once again Tommy Spaulding has shown us that good guys do win. To be an effective leader one needs more than a title and talent - it’s the heart and Tommy shows us why.” \u003cb\u003e-- Wayne Berson, Chief Executive Officer, BDO\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“There is no better person to share insights on leading from the heart than Tommy Spaulding. He is a man of trust, character, authenticity and love. Read this book and you will not only change the way you lead, but you will change the way you live.” \u003cb\u003e--Sherry A. Chris, President \u0026amp; CEO, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A rare book written from the heart, with inspiring examples of leaders who put others first.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e-- Adam Grant, Wharton professor and New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The Heart-Led Leader should be mandatory reading for everyone entering business school, and then mandatory again as they graduate. With unforgettable stories and great personal authenticity, Tommy Spaulding teaches and inspires all of us to be better leaders.\" \u003cb\u003e--Dolf Berle, President \u0026amp; COO, Dave \u0026amp; Busters Inc.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Leadership is a human endeavor that inherently starts in our hearts. Tommy shows us the way.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e-- Scott Mordell, CEO, Young Presidents’ Organization\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Tommy Spaulding has achieved something special with The Heart-Led Leader…he’s helping leaders show other leaders the way. Managing is logical and driven from the head, but Tommy’s experiences and stories show that authentic leadership, and excellence in achieving results, can only be sustained when you feel first, think second, and act third.“ \u003cb\u003e--Charlie Piscitello, SVP, Chief People Officer, Petco\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You have to applaud TS for taking on such a topic as the Heart, as we know the Heart can be hard! He has taught us that leading from the Heart can have powerful implications in our personal and professional lives. The question we have to ask ourselves is… are we willing to take the journey?” \u003cb\u003e-- Tee Green, CEO, Greenway Health\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Eighteen short - but important - inches. In his heartfelt book, Tommy Spaulding compassionately leads us on a journey from the head to the heart. Through eighteen different stories with themes ranging from character to humility to vulnerability to result driven purpose, The Heart-Led Leader provides a roadmap to explore the true meaning of oneself in order to help lead with EQ rather than IQ.” \u003cb\u003e--John Hayes, President \u0026amp; CEO, Ball Corporation\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Tommy puts into words what I’ve always lived and believed – the best and most fulfilling leadership is Heart-Led Servant Leadership. Take Tommy’s 18-inch journey from your head to your heart and you will not only increase your bottom line, but change the lives of those you lead. This is required reading for my entire leadership team.” \u003cb\u003e--Buddy Brown, President, Independent Hardee’s Franchise Association\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Whether you are an accomplished leader or just getting started, Tommy Spaulding’s The Heart-Led Leader will compel you to re-think your relationships, your leadership philosophy and what you really want out of life. Through the lens of his own relationships and experiences, Tommy offers powerful insights and a practical toolkit you can start working with right away to achieve breakthrough results.\" \u003cb\u003e--John Swieringa, SVP \u0026amp; CIO, DISH Network LLC\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Being a Heart-Led Leader is easy for Tommy Spaulding because these traits come so natural to him. This is not a leadership style that he turns off and on….it is how he lives his life. But now he's written a manual to teach us all his secret sauce. A life, business and career changing read!\" \u003cb\u003e--John Ikard, Chairman, American Banking Association\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"In a world consumed by a relentless climb to the top, Tommy Spaulding has lived by example showing me and everyone who knows him that there is a more fulfilling way to live and lead; one that leaves a lasting legacy behind you. This book is a must read and a reminder of what true leadership looks like.\" \u003cb\u003e--Matthew West, ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter\/Artist of the Year winner and four-time GRAMMY nominee\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Every educator in America must read Tommy Spaulding's new book, The Heart-Led Leader! When you read it, do so with the intent to be changed! Through Tommy’s riveting stories, your heart will grow as you go on an 18-inch journey transforming you to a leader who leads with your heart. Be ready to embrace leadership in a new and life changing way.\" \u003cb\u003e--Dr. Jim Wipke, Superintendent, Fox School District, Missouri\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The Heart-Led Leader is an important book because it not only speaks about servant leadership and how it impacts people but it also is one of the first of its kind to connect this leadership philosophy to bottom-line results. And with his tear jerking storytelling, Tommy Spaulding writes the book in a way that makes it hard to put down.\" \u003cb\u003e--Walt Rakowich, former CEO \u0026amp; President, Prologis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Spot on! Tommy Spaulding artfully weaves the value of solid business practices with his trademark storytelling and insights how heart-led leadership impacts the lives we lead and clients we serve. A powerful read for anybody in sales or leadership positions whom are responsible for bottom line performance.\" \u003cb\u003e--Chris Mygatt, President, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Colorado\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The leader must first and foremost: Love. As Tommy Spaulding explains in this wonderful book, the journey starts in the heart. Read this book to take your leadership impact to the next level.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e --Tim Sanders, author of Love Is the Killer App\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“As a fervent believer in relationship-driven leadership, I strongly recommend that all leaders (or those who wish to become leaders) read this book. Tommy Spaulding identifies, explains and exemplifies what is missing from most leaders’ arsenals—the power of heart-driven leadership.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--Stuart Holland, VP Retail Sales, Pacific Life\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Tommy Spaulding is the real deal. Since the first time I met him, I’ve suspected he has an oversized heart, due to his uncanny ability to pump a steady stream of love to everyone he meets, either through his speaking engagements, his writings, or personal relationships. In The Heart-Led Leader, Tommy reminds us that we already possess the capability for unbridled success—all we need is love.\" \u003cb\u003e--Eric Blehm, New York Times Bestselling Author of FEARLESS and LEGEND\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The first leadership book I could NOT put down. The pages flow in this \"must read\" masterpiece by Tommy Spaulding. The Heart-Led Leader is truly inspirational and full of essential leadership lessons for new and experienced leaders alike.” \u003cb\u003e--Chris Howard, President, Hospital Operations, SSM Health\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eTommy Spaulding\u003c\/b\u003e, the founder and president of Spaulding Companies, a leadership-development consulting firm based in Denver, is the author of the New York Times bestselling book \u003ci\u003eIt’s Not Just Who You Know\u003c\/i\u003e.  The former president and CEO of the global leadership organization Up with People and the co-founder of The Center for Heart-Led Leadership, Spaulding consults with and speaks to businesses and nonprofit organizations across the country.Who You Are Matters\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of the people who taught me the most about being a heart-led leader was a man named Anthony D'Aquanni. Anthony was a hair stylist in White Plains, New York, just across the Hudson River from my hometown, Suffern. Anthony wasn't wealthy, and he didn't have a high-profile public career. He spent much of his life as the owner of a small business that he and his wife, Helen, opened not long after they were married in 1940.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe two of them were seldom apart. For decades, Helen would wash and color the hair of their clients, while Anthony cut and styled. They worked hard, bought a modest home, raised four daughters, and, later, doted on 14 grandchildren. They somehow made every one of them feel like the most special person in the world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnthony and Helen never missed a school play or a sporting event or a Scouting ceremony. Their grandchildren grew up watching the two of them hold hands, kiss, laugh, and dance in their kitchen. At Christmas gatherings, Anthony always gave the same toast. \"Never forget the three most important things in life,\" he would say. \"Family, family, and family.\" That was the measure of Anthony's success, the love of his family.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThen one day Helen had a stroke. She survived, but the doctors told Anthony his wife would never walk again. They suggested moving her into a nursing home. The two of them had been married for 55 years, and Anthony couldn't bear the thought of being without the love of his life. So he visited Helen every day and worked tirelessly with her on her physical therapy. He was the first visitor to arrive each morning and the last to leave every night. Eventually the staff gave him his own key. Anthony was the only non-employee in the nursing home's history who could come and go as he pleased.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter months of determined effort, he proved the doctors wrong. Helen walked again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTheir elation was short-lived, however. Three months later, his wife suffered a second stroke. Helen never walked or talked again. But, remarkably, if anyone sang \"You Are My Sunshine\" to her, she was able to sing along. It was, after all, Anthony's and Helen's song.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwo years after Helen's first stroke, Anthony learned he had an inoperable brain tumor. He died at the age of 82, leaving behind his wife of 57 years (Helen would live to age 89 before passing away).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBefore Anthony died, a long string of family members came to say goodbye and to tell him they loved him. \"Everyone keeps telling me that they love me,\" he said to one of his daughters shortly before he died. \"Show me!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThose were his very last words: \"Show me!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDon't just tell me you love me, show me. Anthony could utter that message because he had lived it. He had shown Helen he loved her by being present for her every day of his life. He was always there for her, always in tune with what she needed, even in those final years when she could give very little back to him. But his love and devotion were never about what she could give. For Anthony and Helen, it was always about what they could give to others--to their children, their grandchildren, their clients, their friends, their community, and, most of all, each other. That's how you build relationships that last forever.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough his words and his example, Anthony taught me invaluable lessons about life and leadership. And I was lucky enough to be able to spend many years absorbing these lessons.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat's because Anthony D'Aquanni was my grandfather.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat I admire most about Anthony is that he took what he was given in life and made the absolute most of it. And isn't that what we should all aspire to do? Whether you're the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or the sole proprietor of a small business, an award-winning journalist or the secretary of your church newsletter, an Olympic athlete or a stay-at-home parent, all we can ask of ourselves is that we try to live our lives, at work and at home, as a true expression and reflection of who we are.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy grandfather wasn't wealthy or famous. He didn't have political power and he didn't run a large corporation. But he knew exactly who he was and what he cared about. As he showed me through the way he lived his life, it doesn't matter what titles or awards or accomplishments you've accumulated or placed on your mantel. Success is about building hearts, not resumes. Success fulfills us only when we focus on our passions, when we care as much about others as we do about ourselves. When we lead with our hearts.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBecause who you are matters.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRule #45: Do Right\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"All we have are our hearts and minds. If these hearts and minds aren't taken care of, what kind of company are we going to be? We need to create an environment where people's hearts and minds can thrive.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat statement, for me, is the epitome of heart-led leadership. It was spoken by the CEO of a billion-dollar company who is committed to growing profits, expanding market share, and satisfying shareholders. A CEO who is committed to accomplishing these things as a heart-led leader.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe individual who said those words to me is Tee Green, one of the most authentic, humble, and service-oriented leaders I've ever met. He is the CEO of Greenway Health, a medical software company based in Carrollton, Georgia. Over the past several years, I have spoken in various venues to the company's executives, employees, and customers and have gotten to know the organization fairly well. Greenway is not just an industry leader in the field of electronic medical records; it is also known for its exceptional service and its caring attitude toward clients, employees, and communities.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI experienced this firsthand when I was at the company's annual conference recently and saw Tee speak to 3,000 Greenway customers. After introducing a new product line, he said: \"Look, I'm the CEO. The buck stops here. If anyone here has a problem with our software, or a question about it, call me. Here is my cell phone number.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd Tee then gave his personal cell phone number to the 3,000 attendees. That is putting yourself on the line for your product. That is caring about your customers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTee founded Greenway with his father in 1998. The company provides software to physicians, pharmacies, and other health care providers so they can electronically manage medical records and revenue cycles. Greenway also specializes in health care analytics--the use of software to interpret clinical studies, analyze the efficiency of care, or utilize genetic information to develop better treatments. His father is now retired from the firm, but Tee has helped Greenway become one of the country's top providers of medical software. For a while, the company was growing at a rate of 30 percent a year, and although that rate is not sustainable forever, Greenway is still growing rapidly--just last year the company hired 450 new personnel, and now it has 1,700 employees.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGreenway went public in 2012; two years later it was bought for $644 million by Vista Equity Partners, to merge it with Vitera Healthcare Solutions, another medical software company. At the time, Greenway was working with 15,000 health care providers in the United States; Vitera had a client list of 85,000 providers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMergers take place all the time in the business world, but there is an aspect of this deal that is not so common: the new company is called Greenway Health, the software products are marketed under the Greenway brand, and the new CEO is none other than Tee Green. Now, how many times do two companies merge and retain the name and the management team of the smaller company? Not often.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen I asked Tee about this, he was his typical humble self. \"Well, I think Vista Equity just liked our road map,\" he said. \"They liked where we were driving the company.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut mergers are about hard-nosed business decisions. Even though Vitera was six times the size of Greenway, Vista Equity was not just giving preference to Greenway's products or \"book of business.\" It was buying into the Greenway brand and into Greenway's concept of heart-led leadership. It was buying into the who, not just the what.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI don't have any particular knowledge of medical software, but I am passionate about people and servant leadership. And, based on my experience in working with hundreds of companies and thousands of executives, I can tell you that Greenway is run by some special individuals.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor one, I don't think I've ever been greeted more warmly by staff members at any company than I have been at Greenway. But the distinctiveness of the company's culture goes beyond mere friendliness. It's apparent when you walk into a meeting with Greenway executives how much they care about each other, and that they are dedicated not only to growing their company but also to ensuring that the organization maintains its character for the long term.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"We wanted to build a generational company that would be around for decades and be able to make a true impact,\" Tee told me. \"We wanted to fundamentally change how health care was provided. At the same time, we wanted to attract people who would build a career here, not just stay a few years and move on. I wanted to build an organization that employees would be proud to be a part of.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Look, anyone can build a company and then sell it a few years later and make a lot of money,\" he said. \"But is that really what it's all about? I'd rather do something for the long term and build something that lasts.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMike Hairston, executive vice president for sales, and Eric Grunden, vice president for professional services, have worked with Tee for years. Mike first met Tee when they were students and fraternity brothers at Auburn University; he has worked at Greenway almost since its founding in 1999. Eric has been with Greenway for more than a decade. I spoke with the two of them one day in an effort to get more insight into Greenway's brand of heart-led leadership.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMike shared a story from the company's early days that, to him, symbolizes what Tee and Greenway are all about.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This happened shortly after I started here. One of the first sales I made was with a company in Mississippi, and we had some of their employees come to Georgia for training on the new system,\" he told me. \"While they were training, one of the women got a phone call that no parent wants to receive. She found out her son had been killed in a car accident. Well, Tee heard about this and he immediately ran out of his office and went down the hill to the training center so he could console this lady. Then, within an hour, he had somehow secured a private plane to fly her back to Mississippi so she could be with her family.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Now remember, this is when we were just starting out and Greenway didn't have a lot of staff or financial resources. But Tee felt it was important for us to support this woman in her time of need. Then a week later, he came into my office and said to me, 'I feel like I need to go down to Meridian, Mississippi.' So we went there together and we visited the woman who had lost her son. Tee gave her a long embrace and sat there and talked with her for some time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"That's the sort of action that comes from the heart of a person. Tee has always had this heart, and it shows in the way he built the company. I believe that companies take on the personality of their leader. If your CEO is brash or dishonest or egocentric, then you wind up with a company that is brash, dishonest, or egocentric. If your CEO has a heart for serving others, then you wind up with a company that has a heart for serving others. And that's what Tee is all about.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEric Grunden also told me about an incident that illustrates Tee's distinctive style of leadership.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"If you're ever in a meeting with Tee, you see that he uses a whiteboard a lot,\" Eric said. \"And he writes a number down in the corner of the board. So in one of my first meetings with him, I noticed that number on the board and asked him what it was. I guessed that it represented the number of employees at the company. 'You're close,' he told me. 'It's the number of families that are represented by employees who work here.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Well, that just says it all about Tee. That sort of caring for the families of his employees. It really hammered home for me that I'd chosen the right company and the right leader to work for.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMike and Eric told me about what has become known at Greenway as Rule #45: Do Right.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"One time, we came up with a list of 60 or 70 words or phrases that represented what we wanted to be and to achieve as a company,\" Mike said. \"Number 45 on that list was 'do right.' And that has become a phrase that we use all the time now at Greenway. We try to remember Rule #45 because we want to do right by our families, our customers, our co-workers. It's hard sometimes when you're also facing financial pressures to think in these terms, but Tee feels that you should look at everything through the lens of 'Am I doing the right thing?' If you are, then it's the right decision.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDo right. Those two words sum up what Greenway Health is all about. And they are what heart-led leadership is all about.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs part of doing right, the company has tried to be cognizant of its responsibility to give back to the community. In fact, to me, Tee's greatest success as CEO of Greenway Health isn't in building a billion-dollar company but in fostering a partnership with Rapha Clinics, a nonprofit organization that offers free medical services to people who cannot afford health care.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe first Rapha Clinics were founded in Georgia by Sue Brockman. For years Sue worked on little more than a shoestring budget and a prayer. Tee met Sue in 2012 and discovered that she was managing two medical clinics in Temple and Bowdon, Georgia, with ancient computers and little funding. He believed Rapha's mission of providing free health care to residents living below the poverty line was a perfect way to show Greenway's commitment to giving back and its belief that everyone should have access to quality medical care. So he decided to help. Greenway organized several fund-raisers for Rapha and provided the organization with free medical software and training. The company also recruited volunteers to work at Rapha, looking both among its own employees and among Greenway customers. Some doctors who use the Greenway software now volunteer as staff physicians at the clinics.Author of the New York Times bestseller It's Not Just Who You Know","brand":"Crown Currency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46301561290981,"sku":"NP9780553419030","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780553419030.jpg?v=1767739741","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/the-heartled-leader-isbn-9780553419030","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}