Growing Careers & Companies Episode 25 | Thoughts on Leadership
25th Episode of Growing Careers & Companies Podcast
Thoughts on Leadership, with Noel Massie
Our guest today is Noel Massie, a retired Vice President of US Operations for UPS, author, speaker, and consultant to various companies and non-profit organizations. During his 42-year career at UPS, Noel was responsible for tens of thousands of employees across the country, and in this episode we dig deep into what makes a great leader. We talk about Noel’s early life and his storied career, the influential people that shaped him, and his unique worldview. Tune in and get inspired.
Learn more about Noel and his story at: www.growingcareersandcompanies.com.
“You can't hope to get more than you give.”
“I can't recall anyone in my family that didn't wake up every day to go out and do something productive and positive.”
04:20
Noel started his career in 1977 at UPS as an intern, and worked there until retiring as the Vice President of US Operations in 2019. Retiring was a difficult decision for him because he loved his work.
Noel grew up in a family with a strong work ethic, and his biggest inspiration and first mentor was his grandfather who owned and operated a neighborhood barber shop.
“Leadership is influence.”
14:00
Noel is very passionate about leadership, and believes that the real meaning of leadership is the ability to influence others. Conversely, using force or threat is not leadership.
He shares that a business has a fundamental responsibility to provide economic safety and security to its employees. The secondary purpose is to provide economic benefit to the community.
Noel’s advice to become a better leader:
Find a mentor, and learn how to receive feedback.
Be honest with yourself and the people around you.
Learn how to motivate a whole team regardless of their backgrounds or worldviews. The focus should always be on the betterment of the group as a whole.
Instead of trying to convince your employees about something, help them to see why it makes sense.
Noel is currently writing a book about leadership. He plans to publish it along with a podcast in 2022.
The Final 3 Questions
What is the lesson that has taken you the longest to learn?
“When to shut up, because there are moments in everyone's life when shutting up makes the most sense.” According to Noel, this is very hard to do if you’re in a leadership position but there are many times when you should just listen instead of trying to solve problems.
What are the 2 principles from the Growing Careers & Companies Framework that resonate the most with you?
Values and Community. Leaders act in ways that are consistent with their beliefs. You need to cultivate certain positive values and act based on them. No one wants to live in a bad community, and we should work to make our communities betterl for everyone.
What do you hope others take away from your story?
Take personal responsibility for your actions, and don’t assign your failures to others.
About Our Guest, Noel Massie
Noel Massie is the former Vice President of US Operations for United Parcel Service (UPS). In this national role he was responsible for leading thousands of employees directly and hundreds of thousands of employees indirectly. In retirement, he has started a new chapter writing his first book and creating his first podcast.
A warm thanks to Noel Massie for taking the time to share his unique insights and experiences with us.
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