Meet Our Servant Leader — Corporate Trainer, Dawson Bonde

Starting at Buckeye Better Business Consulting in February of 2019, our Corporation Trainer, Dawson Bonde, is a leader the rest of our team works to model themselves after. With a passion for learning, helping others, and music, his determination and versatility are what appeal to others. As we head further into 2022, we want to put more energy into spotlighting our team members and sharing their goals, mindset, and attributes that make them an asset to our business. We are honored that Dawson is a part of our company and are excited for you all to learn more about him!

At thirty years old, Dawson has spent years building his personal and professional ideologies. When he was three, he watched Disney’s Fantasia for the first time and discovered his love of music. With dreams of being an orchestra conductor, he attended The College of Idaho, where he sang opera and wrote music. After graduation, however, he decided not to pursue his passion, not because he no longer loved it but because he wasn’t willing to sell himself out to make it in the industry. This determination to stay true to his values shines brightly to us at Buckeye Better Business Consulting and indicates his future successes.

Now that we’ve given you a hint of Dawson’s character, we’re ready for you to hear from him directly! We hope you’ve got a pen and paper ready because the knowledge you’re about to read is top shelf.

While it is a passion of mine to help others, and the job was very rewarding, I could not find a way to move up and make a substantial living without going back to college for a degree in social work. This was a turning point in my life because it was then I realized I wanted to be my own boss and control my own time so that I could be in an even better position to help others.

We’ve witnessed your servant leadership and admire how much helping others means to you. To keep on this people-focused topic, tell us a little about your leadership style.

I teach others how to think. I don’t always provide people with the answer to their questions, but I like to let them think a little to become more solution-oriented.

Do you believe that you’ll be in our industry for the long haul?

Yes. Having worked another position and hearing the stories of others in the corporate world, I have not heard of another opportunity with as much promise and as many resources. My goal is to have control over my life and be in a better position to help others. This business provides a great path to achieve that goal.

We love knowing that you have your eyes set on building a future for yourself that you will be proud of and are grateful that you’ve picked Buckeye Better Business Consulting to guide you along your journey. What drew you to us in the first place?

I saw a black and white path to a management role.

Facts! We’re developing leaders.

Other than the growth opportunity we provide, what else appeals to you about our company?

My favorite thing about the company is the relationships that are built. I work with my friends, and we have a lot of fun together.

How has your career grown since starting with us?

I did not have the greatest social skills starting. Talking to people I had never met before was always incredibly nerve-racking. I was usually the one at parties hiding in the corner, hoping not to be noticed. Since starting here, I have become way more self-confident, and I may still not be the life of the party, but I can now talk to a complete stranger without being uncomfortable.

You’ve grown so much over the past few years, and it has been a joy to watch! Circling back to your role as a leader, are you more team-oriented or independently motivated?

I am more team-oriented because more heads are better than one. As long as the team is all rowing in the same direction toward a common goal, the team will always beat the individual.

I look for integrity, loyalty, and perseverance. I want someone who does the right thing when no one is looking, someone I can trust, and someone who doesn’t give up when times get tough.

Dawson, you are a pro at offering others feedback on their performance. How well do you respond to criticism?

As with many people, my instinctive reaction is to go on the defensive, but I always want to be better, so I make sure to still listen to any criticism and often ask for it as well.

It’s great that you are open and honest. Knowing that we all have room to grow is an imperative quality for leaders! Now, we want to know about your greatest skill. What is the number one thing you bring to the table?

Perseverance. I don’t give up. I often take a little longer than the average person to figure things out, but I keep going until I do.

Before I started this career, I had no clear path. Since starting here, that has changed. Everything is planned. My short-term goal is to expand out west closer to my family in Idaho this spring, and my long-term goal is to start a school that does not just have one blanket method of teaching but builds on individual strengths because not everyone learns the same way.

There’s that servant leadership mentality again! You are always thinking two steps ahead and looking for ways to positively impact others. Have we mentioned how thankful we are for you?

You’ve been with us for a while, Dawon, and even worked through the ups and downs of the pandemic with us. How do you think your career has been affected by the COVID-19 virus?

There was definitely a learning curve when it came to COVID, but one of the great things that happened, as a result, was running remote office meetings on Zoom, and it opened new opportunities making it easier to network with others across the country. Hearing from guest speakers or learning from other offices that could be 2,000 miles away is as easy as joining a different Zoom.

It is so clear that your career is thriving. What advice do you have for those hoping to start their professional journey?

Find a career that takes you somewhere, not one that keeps you in the same place for some indeterminate amount of time. The best way to live is to always be growing.

Would you recommend our career style to young leaders?

100%. Most people in this career wish they found it earlier, and I agree.

Gaining the confidence and ability to talk and hold a conversation with almost anyone. Coming from being a complete introvert and afraid to talk to anyone outside my circle, it says a lot.

“Like climbing a mountain, it’s always important to turn around and see how far I’ve come.”

Dawson, while you learned how to have a strong work ethic from your dad and are inspired by Charles Ives — two people unwilling to fail — our team at Buckeye Better Business Consulting looks to you as an example. You are such a pivotal member of our work family, and we are eager to see all that you achieve this year!

Originally published at http://buckeyebetterbusinessconsulting.wordpress.com on January 12, 2022.