Ep 92: Why leaders must be more deliberate with their communication with Khari Brown

Ever wonder why leaders need to be more deliberate in communication?Special guest Khari Brown shares compelling insight on this specific topic.

Brown is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Spark the Journey. Khari joined Spark the Journey in 2001 as the organization’s Executive Director and became CEO in 2015.

At the time Khari joined, he was Spark the Journey’s only employee and has since built the organization from a niche program that reached only 50 students per year to a burgeoning organization that is currently supporting more than 500 students and has grown by 400% since 2012. By expanding its program offerings and leveraging the power of hundreds of trained volunteers on daily basis, Spark the Journey has been remarkably successful in helping its students overcome the barriers that limit most low-income students. Under Khari’s leadership, Spark the Journey has seen 61% of its graduates’ complete college on time, a rate that is nearly three times that of similar students nationally.

Khari received both a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies and a Master’s degree in Education from Tufts University. A two-time captain of the Tufts basketball team, he played professional basketball in Helsinki, Finland upon graduating from college. After his playing career ended in 1995, he spent six years coaching high school and college basketball in the Boston area. He also owned and operated a fitness and sports performance business serving individual clients and offering clinics and camps for high school and college athletes. Khari’s involvement working with urban teens through his various coaching experiences led him to pursue a career in expanding educational opportunities for low-income youth.

Khari and his wife are the proud parents of two children who attend DC Public Schools

His Personal Quote: “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X

MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

• Fun fact: Khari Brown played basketball with President Barack Obama at Camp David. He said he was invited by White House workers who also volunteered for Spark the Journey who were tasked with arranging basketball games for the president. 
• Deciding your strengths and weaknesses is tough. Khari said he started with what he liked to do and it drew him to his passion. Starting as a team-of-one, he brought in people to help with what he didn’t know. Lesson: Surround yourself with smart people to learn from and pick people who compliment your strengths. 
• When having to let an employee go, it’s not about harming the person, it’s about helping the team accomplish their mission. Making decisions as a leader may not always be a positive experience for stakeholders. You won’t make everyone happy, but use the information you have to make the hard calls to promote the mission of the organization and do what’s best for the team.
• Communication skills depend on the perception of others. You may think you’re a great communicator, but others may perceive you differently. Same as a leader. People may interpret your leadership skills differently than what your intentions are as a leader. Communication must be deliberate. You’ll make mistakes, but how you respond as a leader can lead to growth. 
• Set an example for the people on your team as to how you respond to internal and external challenges. The way you carry yourself is important, because your team will follow your cues and that’ll become part of the work culture.
• It’s easy to forget your progress. Take a second to stop and reflect. As a leader, don’t be dissuaded by your mistakes. Recognize your progress. Validate and recognize your team for the progress you all made.
• Build your team with people who believe in your mission and want to help. It creates your team culture. 
• When working with a volunteer workforce must be motivating with good leadership skills.
•  Visit sparkthejourney.org for more info about the organization.