We recently connected with Athena Landy and have shared our conversation below.

Athena, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you ever had an amazing boss, mentor or leader leading you? Can you us a story or anecdote that helps illustrate why this person was such a great leader and the impact they had on you or their team?

The best boss I have ever had is Keith Hansen of Seriously Strong Training, and I am not just saying that because I am trying to get a raise.

I say that because it is under his leadership that I have experienced the most growth as a professional and individual. What makes Keith a great leader is that he has always made his top priority his team’s happiness and growth. It is not often you can say that about your boss, and I am fortunate to have the privilege of doing so.

Over my years of employment, Keith has never stopped pushing me to be the best version of myself. He does this by challenging me to go beyond what I thought was possible and picking me back up when I stumble. He learned how I needed to be coached and made sure he used those tools when leading me. Feeling seen and heard allows me to focus on using the coaching I receive to grow.

When Keith finds himself in a position where he is not performing his duties to the best of his abilities, he uses it as an opportunity to learn from his team how he can be better. Doing this created an environment where we knew it was OK not to be perfect as long as you keep working towards being the best version of yourself.

Keith embodies the idea that being a leader is not something you do but rather the kind of person you are.

Athena, 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?

I am the Director of Operations for Seriously Strong Training, a personal training company specializing in teaching beginners. I got my start in this industry as a client of SST. I joined training with the hope of changing my body, and I changed my life. After two years of training, I lost 200 pounds and gained a new career. I started my job as a Strength Trainer and later moved into the seat of Director. My position allows me to work with clients helping them towards their goals while also leading other Strength Trainers to serve their clients and grow as professionals and individuals.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I believe an essential tool you need to succeed in my industry is empathy. There is a reason that one of my company’s core values is The Human Element. It is most important to remember that you are working with another person who has a journey that led them to walk in your door. You must honor that fact and keep it in mind when coaching.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

The best advice I can give for managing your team is to remember the human part of human resources. What I mean by this is that you should learn about the people who work for you. When you understand what motivates someone, you become far more effective in leading them.

I understand that it may take more time to develop relationships with each team member, but I assure you that you will receive a return on that investment. We live in a time when pizza parties and holiday bonuses no longer wow employees. Your team wants to know you care. Invest in your people, and they will invest in you.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.seriouslystrongtraining.com
• Instagram: @seriouslystrong
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SeriouslyStrongTraining

Image Credits
Seriously Strong Training