We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Arnita Taylor. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Arnita below.

Arnita, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

In pondering this question, I realize that my life is saturated by little and not so little risks. Risks always come into play when the time comes to make choices and to face change. Risks are part of growth and development. As a leadership and personal development coach, I am often invited into conversations centering around risks and cost benefit analysis of them. In 2007, I took a major risk in the form of a total career shift. My professional career had been in science namely clinical laboratory science for twenty plus years. I was invited into a non-profit, pastoral role and took it. I am certain I did not know what a drastic difference this move was, but I was confident in my move even with the uncertainty and the degree of difference. It was within that role, focusing on people, their evolution, and not laboratory analyzers and test tubes, that I became intrigued to pursue growth and development of people, helping make their lives better. This intrigue motivated me to take yet another risk of going back to graduate school, after being out of college for 24 years in a virtual context. Upon completion of the master’s program, I start Eight Leadership Development Group, one major outcome of my chain of risks. As for other implicit outcomes, I wouldn’t trade my risk at all! The main reason is the level of growth and learning that I received. Being courageous enough to pursue something totally different in middle age has given me confidence to continue to reinvent myself, a skill needed by all of us as we evolve on this life journey. This experience makes me a great development coach, being able to authentically coach others from personal demonstration. I can deeply support and encourage.

Arnita, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi there! I am Arnita Willis Taylor, originally born in Murfreesboro, TN. I moved to the DFW area, namely Keller, from Atlanta, with my husband, Michael and two sons Evan and Nolan in 1999. I must admit, I came to Texas kicking and screaming! I have met some incredible people here though. I believe in the scribbly lines approach to life! It guards me against boredom!
I have a varied career path starting out as a clinical laboratory scientist for twenty plus years. I am really an information and scientist nerd, and I like it! After that time, I was invited into a pastoral ministry position leading a small group ministry – a position that ignited my passion to help others be the best they could be! The feeling was incredibly fulfilling and spiritual! What an incredible joy in helping evoke excellence in others. After leaving ministry, I went back to graduate school after 24 years to get more skilled at helping others reach optimum potential, ultimately obtaining a master’s degree in leadership with a focus in leader development. Then, I founded Eight Leadership Development Group, a coaching business in 2011.
In 2019, I was invited to co-write a book, A Language of Healing for a Polarized Nation, with Wayne Jacobsen and Robert Prater. The writing process was an opportunity for me to practice what I preach with my full potential message, embracing change and growth. I was living out a stretch goal of becoming an author and being uncomfortable. It was an incredible process of recording a series of conversations and storytelling on how to individually process doing life with people who differ from you. It is important to develop empathy and compassion for others’ journeys. Creating environments that are conducive to mutual respect and dialogue without agreement is a tall order.
I enjoy doing candid and practical conversations with groups and team centering on diversity, equity, and inclusion in addition to other soft skill foci. – especially as an extra, extravert, who loves entertaining and having people in my home. Whether by a coffee share, coaching session, or webinar, I have been so enriched by the number of amazing people and groups of people who have come into my life as a result of becoming an author. Helping people understand it is permissible to respect another person’s experience is always a gift to offer to humanity, hopefully yielding positive social change and encouraging diversity of thought. In addition, recently, I published a family cookbook as a tribute and legacy to my sons, Taylor Made Dinner Table: A Compilation of My Family’s Favorites.
EIGHT Leadership Development Group is a leadership development consulting firm based in Keller, Texas. Since great leaders are lifelong learners, EIGHT provides learning opportunities and developmental coaching to improve personal and leadership performance in a practical manner. To serve our clients with purpose, we offer CUSTOMIZED individual coaching sessions, group breakout sessions, workshops, team enrichment and organizational development strategies. In addition, we specialize in providing small group leader training in various contexts. Eight’s Core Values are excellence, empowerment, integrity, individualization, learning, fun, and change. The five C’s of EIGHT are character, culture, communication, change, and conflict management.
EIGHT Leadership Development Group has several ongoing development programs, but primarily specializes on acquiring and building soft skills. We are known for our practical approach to development where you receive information to put into action the same day! EIGHT also runs a book club called Rapha Circle – focusing on personal awareness of emotional hygiene and intelligence. I am most proud of my clients who are living out their childhood dreams – going back to school, starting a boutique, creating a home kitchen cupcake bakery, even as they reach middle age. My clients are constantly reinventing themselves as a result of implementing newfound solutions.
I believe Eight Leadership Development Group is set apart because we provide a customized, individual, and specific approach to your desired development outcomes. In addition, as an ordained minister, Arnita is happy to build upon integrated coaching combining body, soul, and spirit. Any desired sessions and trainings can be adapted to have a faith-based focus, and all sessions focus on critical thinking and problem solving.
Above all, my leadership development is personal. As a pastor, coach, medical worker, wife and mother to 2 adult children, I use my experiences to help others reach their potential.
Our Services
• Individuals: Following a complimentary consultation, a customized program is formulated to address your individual needs and gaps. In addition, a 21 day follow up is included as you master your new skills and tools. This virtual contact allows you to practice and receive additional insight for increased effectiveness in practice.
All material can be adapted for a faith-based context for churches and some non-profits.

• Teams/Groups: Following a complimentary consultation, a 4+ customized session program is formulated to address the needs of your team. Frequently selected topics include building rapport, giving feedback and conflict management strategies.

• Organizations: Following a complimentary consultation with senior leadership discussing a macro picture of the organization and micro goals and objectives, a 4+ session custom program is formulated for the organization. In addition, a 21 day follow up is included. This virtual contact allows for practice and additional coaching to increase effectiveness.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think my reputation has been built in a few ways. One, being significant in the lives of others helps with the best marketing in the world, a satisfied, edified customer. Two, I think that social media has given me a global bandwidth and exposure to friends of friends. Three, I have reputation of being truthful and resourceful, qualities that are invaluable to a good coaching business.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Building a brand or business is not for the faint of heart and absolutely requires resilience. For me, one of the major ways resilience is practiced is by being flexible. As a visionary leader, I have a lot of specifics and strategy about how I think situations should unfold. It is important to focus on the goal and allow for flexibility on the manner the goal is obtained. When I started Eight Leadership Development Group in 2011, I had two classes to complete graduate school. I thought I would have many clients immediately, but I did not. I stayed true to my vision and waited for my clientele to increase. The time frame was almost three years. I am glad that I decided to flex my expectations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.arnitawillistaylor.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/arnitataylor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=eight%20leadership%20development%20group
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnitat/
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/sk=a+language+of+healing+for+a+polarized+nation&crid=DCDAYJRQOE9V&sprefix=A+Language+of+%2Caps%2C126&ref=nb_sb_ss_retrain-deeppltr_1_14 https://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Made-Dinner-Table-Compilation/dp/0578361736/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2EF19YKOL35JO&keywords=taylormade+dinner+table+cookbook&qid=1652897526&sprefix=taylor+made+dinner+table+cookbook%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1

Image Credits
Lupe Hodges Photography Stacey Oluchi Photography