Effective leaders demonstrate certain characteristics, including ones you might not think of such as being true to themselves, allowing themselves to be vulnerable and embracing the uncomfortable, according to Thomas Olmsted, retired U.S. Navy SEAL. Olmsted was the featured presenter at the ARA of Arizona’s June 7 “Becoming A Better Leader” event, held at PRO EM National Event Services, Phoenix.
He “gave a truly remarkable presentation on leadership, being vulnerable as a leader, setting goals and the importance of communication. Bringing his experiences as a special warfare operator and how those principles relate to business was unique, but he made them relatable,” says Brady Castro, principal, PRO EM National Event Services, Phoenix, and new ARA of Arizona vice president.
Castro was honored to have his company serve as host of the event. “It was important to host to demonstrate our commitment to the American Rental Association (ARA) and our local members,” he says.
For Michael Baer, president, Trench-Ade, a new ARA member from Phoenix, Olmsted’s message really resonated.
“Listening to Mr. Olmsted speak was quite an experience. I appreciate his service and have a massive amount of respect for him. Watching someone at that level — a former undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins, a college football athlete at Troy University in Alabama and a Navy SEAL — be so humble and so gracious, that was pretty amazing to see. There are not too many people around like that. It was a lesson in humility,” he says.
Baer says Olmsted’s message was extremely valuable. “He asked two questions: ‘Who are you?’ and ‘What are your values?’ He didn’t ask about your job title. At the end of the day, figuring that out so your employees and those around you can identify with who you are and who you want to be was a huge takeaway for me. I also loved one of his quotes, which I will put up in our breakroom at work: ‘To be unclear is to be unkind.’ I believe, whether you are raising kids, managing a team or in your personal relationships, there is almost no truer statement. You have to set clear expectations and let people know what you are talking about when you are talking,” he says.
As part of his presentation, Olmsted addressed individual and personal growth, being vulnerable and embracing the uncomfortable, defining purpose and goal setting.
Baer was so impressed that “I wish I would have taken our employees to hear this,” he says.
ARA of Arizona President Maureen Wendelberger, director of purchasing, Cre8ive Event Rentals, Tempe, Ariz., knew this event struck a nerve with rental operators when she saw that around 50 people registered for it. “This was the best turnout we have had at one of our events since 2021,” she says.
Like Baer, she was extremely impressed with what Olmsted had to say. “He was an engaging speaker and left everyone with lots to think about. Personally and professionally, I’ve already started to use some of the tools he shared. For instance, he mentioned that ‘to be unclear is to be unkind.’ That stuck with me. I am now making sure I offer clarity on direction to my new team. Another of his quotes about ‘sled-dog mentality’ reinforced to me the need to build a balanced team, not unlike a sled-dog team — part wildly aggressive combined with steady, strong and stable,” she says.
There also was plenty of time for networking, which Baer appreciated. “I came out of this event with four new contacts and lunch meetings set up for the following week that were extremely valuable,” he says.
Wendelberger says this event is just one of many the ARA of Arizona has planned for those in the state’s rental community. “The ARA of Arizona board is excited to work on bringing more terrific and engaging events the rest of this year and next,” she says.