Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shara Hutchinson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you recount a time when the advice you provided to a client was really spot on?

The best advice I give to leaders, that rings true in any situation, comes from my book Barefoot in the Boardroom. I tell them, “When you’re given a seat at the table, don’t sit. STAND.” Stand is an acronym and I’ll share the meaning in the following example where this principle made a big difference for a previous client:

A software company, let’s just call them “Tech Company A”, was transitioning their customer relationship management system to Salesforce after using Excel Spreadsheets to track leads and customer service interactions. About three months after implementation, “go live”, the leaders realized employee engagement was not as high as they had hoped during the transition and many of their Account Managers, Customer Service Reps, and other staff were still using spreadsheets. This was affecting the quality of reports and projections on sales activity the leadership team expected to have. On top of all that, several key employees left the organization during this transition.

Realizing the importance of having the entire team on board, the leadership of Tech Company A reached out to me. They were enthusiastic about partnering together to develop a strategy that would not only get their employees excited about the new system but also enhance communication and foster a more collaborative culture.

After assessing the situation, we found that the employees were having a hard time because they were not involved in setting up the new system. The switch to Salesforce was making their work more complicated because no one had checked how this new system would affect their existing workflow. To make matters worse, the culture at Tech Company A did not welcome new ideas. When employees tried to share their thoughts, they felt ignored. This led to some of the key team members leaving the company, and Tech Company A was losing money and talented staff.

I spoke with the leadership team and advised, “Your team is your greatest asset. They hold the answers you’re looking for, but you must “STAND” during this transformation to get the result you want. This will increase their adoption of the new solution.” Here is what that looks like:

• Be Selfless because it is not always about you.
• Be Tactful because it is not what you say but how you say it.
• Be Aware of how what you do impacts others.
• Be Nimble because things won’t always go as planned.
• Be Daring enough to say and do the hard things that are right.

Embracing a spirit of collaboration and being committed to STAND, the leadership team and I worked together on the following plan:

1. Express Gratitude and Openness: The leaders warmly expressed their gratitude to the team for their unwavering commitment, and candidly acknowledged that they should have involved them earlier. They extended heartfelt apologies and conveyed a genuine sense of eagerness to collaborate, making sure the switch to Salesforce would be a win for everyone.
2. Encourage Employee Input: We initiated a series of creative brainstorming sessions, where employees were encouraged to share their insights on streamlining Salesforce to better fit their workflow.
3. Cultivate a Culture of Communication: The leadership demonstrated their commitment to open communication by not only actively listening but also implementing the suggestions that came from the team.
4. Celebrate Successes Together: We instituted weekly meetings where the team would share updates and successes. These meetings also included spotlight segments where contributions from team members were highlighted and celebrated.

The result was inspiring. The team felt valued and motivated to contribute to the company’s success. They started using Salesforce effectively, and the company began to recover. They not only saved money but also created an environment where employees felt they were an integral part of the company’s success.

This experience at Tech Company A is a testament to the importance of communication, collaboration, and acknowledging the value that each team member brings to an organization. When a company is committed to openness and willing to work together toward improvement, incredible growth, and success can be achieved.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

One thing you should know about me is that I lead while “Barefoot”. Yes, I take my shoes off while working with my clients. I’ll explain, but first I’ll tell you about My journey to becoming Founder and Chief Change Strategist at Xposeyour. It has been a great blend of diverse experiences, including literally taking my heels off before a presentation in the boardroom. I started out in food service management, moved to call center operations, and then dove into the corporate waters at a software company where I spent almost a decade leading their Services and Support Department. Through the roller coaster of acquiring three companies, my team and I managed to maintain high customer satisfaction and retain our top talent. It was there I realized that my super power was helping teams work better together during chaos and change so projects are successful and employees are happy.

But my excitement for learning and making a difference took me beyond the software domain. I had the privilege of leading the Customer Experience division in the public transit sector. There, my greatest achievement was transitioning our customer base to a more equitable, digital payment fare. We believed in the power of inclusion and made sure our customers had a say in our decision-making. This approach brought about a smooth transition that fostered internal collaboration resulting in a massive change being embraced by the ridership.

While all these experiences helped develop my understanding of human behavior and the importance of cultivating a positive organizational culture, the real turning point was after I had my son.

Becoming a mom made me realize I wanted more control of my schedule to spend more time with him as well as my husband while still solving challenges and developing leaders. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do and then something happened….

One day I was scheduled to give a presentation in the boardroom to a group of executives. I had been walking around in heels all day and by the time of the meeting, my feet were begging for relief. The discomfort was so intense that I was left with no option but to slip out of my heels. At first, there was this nagging thought about not appearing professional, but in that moment, it felt right. So, I kicked my shoes off and presented.

That simple act of prioritizing my comfort over conforming to norms spoke volumes to me. It was symbolic of not only the balance and authenticity I wanted to incorporate into my professional life, but also how sometimes the only way to be effective is to make a change regardless of how it will look. This was the beginning thoughts for my book, Barefoot in the Boardroom, my TEDx talk about leading change that sticks, and my change management and leadership development consulting business, Xposeyour.

I founded Xposeyour to help organizations and leaders to make change stick beyond the boardroom. As experts in organizational change management, we use my framework, the Barefoot Method® to offer training, consulting, keynote speaking, and executive coaching while facilitating the following:

• auditing and assessing readiness and capacity for new initiatives
• identifying and training change champions
• developing a communication strategy that helps leaders and teams adapt
• partnering with leadership through every phase of the change while acting as an advisor
• helping to create a better work culture and delighted customers

At the core, my brand is all about people. Whether it’s a customer, an employee, or a leader, I believe that each individual brings something unique to the table. My role is to facilitate an environment where their potentials are unleashed. What sets me apart is not just my experience or my framework; it’s my genuine passion for what I do. I get to wake up every day and help people and organizations not just navigate change but thrive in it……while “BAREFOOT”.

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

Building my reputation was a blend of genuine connections, smart collaborations, and giving back.

I stepped out of my comfort zone to meet people over coffee, valuing authentic relationships over sales. Partnering with an established consulting firm was a game-changer, as it enriched my network and insights.

My TEDx talk amplified my voice to a broader audience, while actively engaging through social media and writing articles kept me connected. Serving on boards embodied my commitment to contributing beyond business.

Locally, joining the chamber and using co-working spaces ingrained me into the business community. Online, I embraced webinars to share my expertise with a global audience.

Essentially, it was about authenticity, sharing knowledge, and being an active part of both local and global conversations.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

In the early days of my business, I was juggling work with several clients. I was excited because my days were packed – engaging with customers, chalking out strategies, and managing operations. However, I inadvertently took my eye off the ball when it came to sales and marketing activities.

Then, I found myself in hot water. Three invoices, all due around the same time, were delayed. I could feel the walls closing in as I faced the stark reality that I was on the brink of not being able to meet payroll.

This moment served as a wakeup call. It was a glaring reminder of the importance of maintaining a balance between client work and the continuous effort needed in sales and marketing. From that day onwards, I made it a priority to carve out time for sales activities, ensuring a steady sales pipeline and regular follow-ups.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.xposeyoursolutions.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shara-hutchinson & https://www.linkedin.com/company/xposeyour/
• Youtube: My TEDx link will be posted soon so i will send you that when it is ready later this week
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/Barefoot-Boardroom-Leaders-Navigating-Change/dp/1631958127

Image Credits
Photo Cred: Steve’s Creative Sessions