Meet Lynn Kier, VP Corporate Communications at Diebold Nixdorf

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There’s never been a greater need for honesty and transparency — for people to tell it like it is.

Enter Lynn Kier, VP Communications at Diebold Nixdorf, who talks about the importance of embracing your authentic self to further your personal mission.

Lynn began her career in 1997 as a financial analyst. After five years, she realised that simply putting her head down and working hard wasn’t the answer. She moved into the automotive industry and later worked her way up to the top of her game in communications. She currently serves on the Forbes Communications Council 

What’s the magic ingredient for effective communication? “You’ve got to tell stories,” Lynn says. “If you look at all the people who are really successful, they're telling stories. And it resonates with people.”

On this episode of Finding Gravitas, Lynn talks about the professional challenges she’s faced throughout her career, the importance of self-promotion, and how to bring your authentic self to the table. Lynn is a strong advocate of empowering your team to empower you. This is “what really sets an authentic leader apart,” she says.

Lynn and host Jan Griffiths discuss traditional weekly meetings versus daily huddles, which are part of a key strategy of Laura Lawson, Chief People Officer at United Wholesale Mortgage. While meetings tend to just end up being about bringing the boss up to speed, huddles bring a team together like a family, Lynn points out.

There’s a growing need for authenticity in business, particularly on social media. Don Akery, President of TTI Americas, has spoken about the need to evolve along with the workforce while staying true to core values. At the younger end of the spectrum, ambassador for millennials and mobility Katelyn Davis owns her voice and her authentic self regardless of title or company.

Themes discussed in this episode:

●     Lynn’s career in communications and the art of self-promotion

●     What makes the culture of Diebold Nixdorf so special

●     The crucial role of communications and using your own words

●     The importance of storytelling in business success

●     Refining your personal mission and bringing your authentic self to the table

●     Finding your voice on social media

Featured Guest: Lynn Kier

🏦 What she does: Lynn is VP of Communications at Diebold Nixdorf, a major bank innovation and retail technology company. With a breadth of experience in the finance and automotive industries, Lynn is leading with a powerful vision of authenticity.

💡 On gravitas: “I have a lot of value to add. And I'm going to do it my way. It'll resonate with some and maybe not with others. But you’ve got to be human. You’ve got to relate.”

Episode Highlights

Timestamped inflection points from the show

[3:03] Origin story: Lynn discusses her background, moving from finance to automotive, and how “networking is everything — who you know is everything.”

[7:50] On self-promotion: At GM, Lynn learned to “self-promote and champion” herself, she says. “You have to lobby for yourself because nobody else is going to do that for you.” Just as importantly, Lynn urges you to “be assertive — maybe be a little aggressive. Don't stop asking for what you want.”

[9:03] How to stand out: Technical knowledge is rarely what sets people apart. For her, “it was the relationship-building," she says. "It was listening to the opportunities that were out there. It was gaining the trust and support of the customers. And it was being present. It was so much fun.”

[10:43] We’re more capable than we think: “You can do just about anything that's put in front of you,” explains Lynn. “You know how to do the job, and how to motivate people to get the job done.”

[16:34] Learning lifelong lessons the tough way: “If you can survive and thrive in the automotive industry, you can do anything,” says Lynn, who took the experience from hard-won battles with her as she moved forward in her career. Now, "I love who I work with," she reports. "I love the culture. I love our mission. And I have fun, even with the [COVID-19] crisis.” 

[21:24] Daily huddles work wonders: Jan and Lynn discuss why weekly meetings or monthly reviews don’t work as well as short but powerful daily huddles.

[24:49] Real leadership: “You have to know that your leader has your back. Then you aren't afraid if something doesn't go according to plan, because we can't control everything,” Lynn clarifies. She once saw a note another leader sent to his colleagues during a crisis: Hey, we're all in this together. We did the best we could at the time, [but] we are going to come up with another plan. And we won't let this happen again." 

[29:06] Communications advice for a changing world: Leaders must listen to their communications teams, but Lynn says telling stories and being authentic are absolutely crucial: “Show the company for what it is — not as a machine. Remember that people are human beings.” 

[34:57] The power of storytelling: If the mission statement can’t be repeated, remembered, or understood, it’s too complex. It “has to be straightforward and clear," she says. "The power of a story is that it resonates with people.” The story should be relatable to a 10-year-old. “Then you tell your customers or CNBC, or you tweet it. It's pretty simple.”

[42:04] The importance of your true, authentic self: “Over the years, through experience and observation, you realize: I'm not adding value to this company at the level I could if I'm not me. They hired me, and if I don't bring me, I'm not giving them the best. You’ve got to be your true authentic self.” 

[55:21] Looking back on the self a quarter-century ago: Knowing what she knows now, Lynn would’ve told her past self coming out of grad school to “go, soar, and just be your authentic you. Your best asset is you.”