Cole: What do you believe to be the most important piece of advice for a leader to follow?
developed Vision 100 to help the airport prepare for an eventual and inevitable 100 million annual passengers (MAP). » The simple strategy features four pillars and four guiding principles. » Every employee and position at the airport can tie their activities into the creation of an organization that will support 100 MAP. This reminds me of the janitor/custodian who President Kennedy encountered on a tour of NASA. » The president asked the janitor, “What is it that you do?” » While pushing a broom, the employee said, “I’m helping to put a man on the moon.” This is one of the best examples I know of someone seeing themselves in the overall organizational mission and vision. Cole: How do you prioritize work-life balance, and what advice do you have for junior professionals who are struggling to find balance? Washington: Honestly, I’ve not always had a good work-life balance. During my 24-year military career, I missed a lot of family time and I missed and regret missing a lot of my kid’s school age activities. However, it’s never too late. For me, family has always been important. One big reason that I came back to Colorado from running LA Metro was to be near my granddaughters. It’s important to carve out time to be present in your loved ones’ lives. I’ve also developed a love for creating good BBQ and for jazz music. If I’m not traveling for work, I might just be heading to a jazz festival or performance somewhere in this country. Cole: What things do you do in your spare time to enable you to be a more effective leader in your professional life?
Washington: A good leader needs to have a clear direction to take an organization – it’s critical that leaders create and articulate a vision for the organization. And, that vision must include equity and fairness for all, with an expectation of excellence. Believe in yourself and don’t let anyone define who you are. Cole: What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in your career, and how have they influenced your leadership style? Washington: My first Platoon Sergeant, Leroy Guidry, taught me an invaluable skill. He said, “Washington, I should be able to assign you to every job in this military unit and you should be able to function in that job within 90 days.” That has guided me for 50 years as I’ve sought to be flexible and do whatever job is asked of me. Cole: How can you inspire others while also maintaining that you continue to be inspired by DEN’s overall mission? Washington: It’s key to work with an organization’s leaders to develop a shared vision that can be inspirational to all. At DEN, we’ve
Washington: I make a point of reading and
Photo: McBoat Photography
12 The Acumen
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