Leadership and "Welcome"
by Mariah Burton Nelson  

Last week I received an "out of the blue" call from a high school friend who had come across one of my books.

Jenny Yates was the girl who welcomed me to Phoenix when I moved there, at age 16, from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. It was just a few days into the new school year. Tall, shy, and painfully aware of my "new girl" status, I stilted into the gym for volleyball tryouts, wanting to belong.

Jenny, who had met me in class, sang out, "Oh good! Look who's here"! Bless her heart.

Ever since Jenny's gracious welcome, I've been a welcomer. When swimmers join my team, I introduce them around, teach them our secret underwater handshake.

When people walk into a hall where I'm planning to give a speech, I stand by the door (when possible) and shake hands. This particular welcome didn't occur to me until sister-speaker Lynne Waymon recommended it. "Think of it as a party," she said. "You're the host. Make them feel comfortable." Indeed, audience members seem pleasantly surprised to be personally greeted by the speaker.

Welcoming: It's an overlooked leadership skill. The word welcome comes from Old English meaning "desirable guest." Often, guests aren't sure if they're desired or not. They wobble into new situations feeling apprehensive. To welcome is to take them by the hand and let them know that they're part of the team.

Jenny Yates, it turns out, became a Nashville songwriter and singer, composing songs with Garth Brooks, Janis Ian, and other stars. She just released her own gorgeous CD, "Out of the Blue."

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NOW AVAILABLE in revised 2005 edition:
The Stronger Women Get, The More Men Love Football