This week, I had the pleasure of announcing the promotion of an employee who began her career with BJC 16 years ago. I knew she was good, but have been really pleased (and a bit surprised) at the overwhelmingly positive response to this news. While I think much of it is about who she is, I have also gotten feedback that many are pleased at the decision to promote internally. I understand and appreciate that. I believe in finding the absolute best person for the job that needs to be done now and in the future. Sometimes, the skill set is inside and sometimes it is outside. Before I came to BJC, I was a candidate for a position at a large company in St. Louis. I remember the CEO confiding that he was wrestling with the decision of whether to go outside and hire me or promote from within. I shared with him that if he had an outstanding candidate inside, he should promote from within. Not only would it be well deserved recognition, but it would speak volumes to the employees of the possibilities for growth and advancement. Ultimately, he agreed and while I lost out on a job, he and I have continued to stay in contact and the employee he promoted and I also became good friends. It was a good outcome all the way around, as just a couple of years later, I was fortunate to find BJC. And, the rest is what's happening now.
I wish you all (whoever the faithful readers are) a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine will be quite busy as we host my husband's very large extended family and my much smaller family at our home. I am very excited that all three of our kids will be home from school, but my excitement pales in comparison to Flint's. He's like a kid looking forward to his 21st birthday. Okay, so I have gone a bit off track with this posting, but I couldn't let the holiday pass us by without acknowledging it and the fact that we had lots of sunshine today!
