How Leaders Think with Kenny Lange

How Cheryl Torres Thinks About Balancing Speed with Teaching in Nonprofit Leadership

Apr 3, 2024

Cheryl Torres, the executive director of Elijah's Retreat, shares her innovative mentoring methods for autistic interns. She emphasizes a people-first leadership approach that values relationships over traditional metrics. The discussion highlights the importance of mentorship in building confidence and leadership skills, while balancing immediate tasks with long-term growth. Cheryl also reflects on creating a supportive culture in nonprofits and shares valuable lessons from her leadership journey, ultimately advocating for community engagement in the autism sector.

34:07

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Episode guests

Cheryl Torres

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Empowering team members through mentorship and delegation fosters ownership and significantly enhances organizational productivity and resilience.

Building genuine relationships with team members creates a culture of psychological safety, enabling personal growth and positive contributions within the workplace.

Deep dives

The Importance of Delegation

Effective leadership involves recognizing that one person cannot do everything, and attempting to do so can create bottlenecks within an organization. By passing responsibilities to others and investing in their development, leaders foster a culture of ownership and mutual investment in the organization's mission. For example, teaching interns with autism how to perform tasks not only empowers them but also builds their confidence and enhances their future employment prospects. This people-first approach ultimately leads to greater productivity and a more resilient organization.

Intro

2min

Transformative Leadership: Investing in People

15min

Empowering Growth Through Mentorship

12min

Fostering a People-First Culture through Small Actions

3min

Reflections on Leadership and Community Engagement

2min

On today's episode of "How Leaders Think," host Kenny Lange engages with Cheryl Torres, executive director of Elijah's Retreat, in a deep dive on the nuances of people-first leadership. Cheryl illuminates the discussion with her firsthand experiences in mentoring and her innovative approach with leading and guiding autistic interns.

Other places to find the “How Leaders Think” podcast:

* Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-think-with-kenny-lange/id1434737807

* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wKtzb6KaF1vNlG9TsZkzh

* Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2tlZXAtcmlzaW5nLXdpdGgta2VubnktbGFuZ2U=

* Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b13c5d64-50db-4626-9685-c356116ec54b

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kennylange/podcasts

* Website: https://howleadersthink.kennylange.com/

Cheryl Torres Resources:
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-torres-b7005571/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahsretreat/
Website: https://elijahsretreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElijahsRetreat/

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