We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kia Williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?
An important lesson I have learned in a prior role that has helped shaped my professional viewpoints is that the “Leadership Blueprint,” is FLAWED. Leadership is an external-facing practice or performance that is imitated and replicated. Notable and often referenced leaders are the likes of incredible innovators Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, or a president/leader of an influential country, but can their successes and leadership blueprints be executed in exact replications by every aspiring leader for any group of people? Of course not. In actuality, leadership is transcending, fluid, and ever-evolving, just like the people we serve and the landscapes we work. Leadership can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster–exhilarating, startling, great climbs, sudden downs, twists, loops, stops, and catapults. Navigating Big T and little t traumas of your people do not have rubric of checkpoints. It calls for constant troubleshooting and an outward mindset, not just following steps that worked for someone else. And with that, I choose to be a disruptor of the leadership blueprint. Dare I consider myself an “Anti-Leader.” Because there is no more delusional confidence in a “blueprint.” I have found more confidence in breaking with convention. I do not approach leadership from the guide of a “blueprint” to imitate, but I view leadership rather like a fingerprint–uniquely individual to a single person and trusted by a specific group of people who choose to value, believe, and champion a common vision and potential.
Kia , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Kia Williams, MBA, MS, is a JEDI advocate, global fitness presenter, published author, project manager, wellness service provider, and the 2022 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year. Kia is the youngest person and first Black person awarded this highly acclaimed recognition. She is recognized for her ability to incorporate innovative, progressive, and critical thinking that result in enhanced business services; two decades of artistry level public speaking and presenting experience; multicultural, diversity, and wellness engagement in global business; and for leveraging transformative change and establishing organizational vision to adapt to evolving customer-facing communication and value propositions.
Kia’s heart dedications are for serving as the Wellness Chairwoman for the NAACP Fort Worth-Tarrant County Chapter, founding board member of Striking + Strong hair care brand, and as an executive board member for Jeremiah 33:6, a not-for-profit holistic health education and preventative medicine corporation. She has contributed to the IDEA World Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Women in Fitness Association (WIFA) College and University Engagement Initiatives, and for Savvier Fitness fitness formats such as Barre Above, Balletone, and Fluid Strength.
Kia has managed several fitness and wellness programs and facilities and uses her transferable professional skills and business experience to develop talent, manage cross functional teams, champion groundbreaking ideas, support multicultural engagement, and to make various opportunities accessible, inclusive, and feasible for the masses. Kia’s career mission is to support people who are affected by marginalization in jobs, education, healthcare, and lack of representation in the fitness industry. Kia has a love for all health and wellness categories. Overall, Kia is committed to helping others live a creative, sustainable, gratifying, and healthy lifestyle and work-life.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
Invest in trust-building upfront. I view application and resume submissions as the initial interview process, but the first formal interview with a candidate is structured for them to interview me as their potential, long term manager. I want the person to have a real opportunity to get to know my style of management and communication style and make an informed decision on if they want to work alongside me, or on my team. This strategy is empowering, transparent, and disarming of the typical interview process, and is the first step in building TRUST. This also sets the tone for the type of energy and presence we will cultivate as a team. When your team is confident you value their opinions and thoughts, and encourage a healthy exchange of respectful discourse, and care, positive morale is a certainty.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Absolutely. I am living out my wildest dreams. To be fortunate enough to serve others through fitness and wellness, help provide solutions to problems, and be a part of making positive impact and change in communities are amazing. I’m having a great time.
Contact Info:
- Website: atthecoreofitall.com
- Instagram: kiawilliams.fitness
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kia.williams.357622
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiawilliams-solutions/
- Other: us.humankinetics.com/products/functional-core-for-women-epub?_pos=1&_sid=2fbff041e&_ss=r&fbclid=PAAaYLeSDcIFvNVDL7blLSVS-zq0qrx7shX7h1uRRzxJcZqLQ77iC7r959jik
Image Credits
N/A