Championing Leadership Inside and Outside the Office

What does it mean to be a good leader? True leadership should go beyond how a person manages their work or what they do in the office. The greatest leaders are those who get out into the community to make a difference.

Over the course of an individual’s career, so much focus is placed on developing businessl eadership skills, but not enough consideration is given to how those skills can be further developed and enhanced by taking them outside the office and into the community. The qualities it takes to be a good leader – active listening, problem solving, effective communication – can be enhanced outside the office just as they are in a professional setting. And as leaders bring these traits into the community, they will also find they can make a powerful impact on the communities they operate in and beyond. Giving back is a natural extension of a business leader’s capabilities and can help further their leadership skills while benefiting their community.

Making a Difference Makes for Better Leaders

Airplanes and aviation history are an ongoing passion of mine. As my collection of vintage Waco planes grew, I realized I wasn’t satisfied keeping these important pieces of history to myself. Despite taking some of the planes to fly-ins, where others could enjoy them, I kept wishing they weren't hidden away in my hangars where I was the primary beneficiary of their beauty. While building my collection, I realized I’d created an incredible opportunity to increase my community’s access to these wonderful machines.

As someone who has formed invaluable connections in the aviation space, I knew opening this collection to the public would provide an exciting chance to educate and connect with my local community. Now, my position has transitioned to “curator” as my team prepares for the opening of The Caldwell Collection at Mustang Field on October 4. The collection of 27 vintage airplanes displayed at the historic Mustang Field Hanger that operated during World War II celebrates the people who helped make these incredible feats of engineering possible.

My collection, driven by years of leadership instinct, gave me a new way to positively shape my community while continuing to hone my own leadership skills. Consider the following ways giving back can make you a better leader:

• Gain a new perspective: Developing The Caldwell Collection at Mustang Field has given me a chance to see my community in a new light and learn from people from all walks of life, regardless of their background or knowledge in aviation. Taking the time to connect with and give back to a leader’s community not only helps expand their perspective but also provides clearer context to your existing perspective.

• Improve team culture: As more young professionals are expressing interest in workplaces that place a greater focus on doing good, business leaders giving back to the community outside the office can inspire others, strengthen team culture and keep employees engaged. Giving back helps a leader not only advance his or her own professional development, but also that of the team around them. In my experience, the Mustang Field display was reflective of my organization’s commitment to collaboration and communication.

• Build a network: Whether an individual is leading a large company with locationsnationwide or a small, local business, staying in touch with the community can always be beneficial. As a bonus, these burgeoning connections double as networking opportunities helping a leader to grow professional, while boosting recognition of your organization in the local community.

So much good can come from giving back. Leaders can expand their professional presence and personal and company reputations by getting more involved with philanthropic efforts outside of work. By taking the initiative to give back, leaders can satisfy their own desire to support their local community, foster stronger relationships with employees better themselves and most importantly, serve others. It has been incredibly fulfilling to develop The Caldwell Collection at Mustang Field, and I look forward to our official grand opening on Oct. 3. To learn more about The Caldwell Collection at Mustang Field, please visit https://www.thecaldwellcollection.org/.