By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A leadership group in St. Joseph is working to make better community leaders through a coaching framework designed to develop leadership.
The Joseph Company is a group of people working to become transformational leaders who make a difference within St. Joseph.
Wes Simmons owner of the 3D Institute who leads the group says the group is focused on building a shared framework to help the community thrive in every sector
“Whether it be the arts, athletics, business, education, healthcare, government, nonprofit, I mean that kind of sums up the community, and so we’re looking for leaders within all of those sectors who want to join us and say you know what we want to be part of the solution and creating our future, because I believe we have a bright future and there’s a lot here,” Simmons says on the KFEQmunnity show.
Simmons says one of the bigger challenges at the beginning of the group was relaying to everyone that they really are coaches in their own right
“I know you may not call yourself a coach, but that’s what you’re doing, in fact that’s really the original definition of a coach we lean into,” Simmons explains. “In the 1500’s a coach was a covered carriage that takes a person of importance from where they are to where they want or need to go, and that’s a great metaphor for transformational leadership, it begs four questions, do I see everybody as a person of importance? Do I know where they are? Do I know where I take them? And am I providing covering?”
Simmons says it takes people buying in to the program to really transform the community and that culture
“And I just say this often, I know there’s a lot of organizations out there that have a great culture and they don’t need this, well I’m reminded of the old JFK quote, ask not what St. Joe can do for you, what can you do for St. Joseph, and that’s kind of the mindset,” Simmons says. “So, even if you’re successful and you’re thriving, all right well bring that leadership, bring that energy, and bring that expertise to us, because we need you.”
The Joseph Company held a ‘Head Coaches Summit’ today at the InspireU Children’s Discovery Center ahead of the launch of its season five campaign in October.
Participants heard from City Manager Mike Schumacher and Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Hawn, as well as Simmons, and also get a tour of the InspireU Children’s Discovery Center.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.