Lisa Beth Lentini has worked in the U.S. Federal Government and is currently the Chief Compliance Officer and Co-Chair of the Deluxe Enterprise Risk Council, and one of her greatest passions in life is to help foster greatness in others. On this episode, Lisa talks about focusing on what matters, and why kindness is so important — to others, as well as yourself.
Why is it so important for you to champion other women, including in our industry? There aren’t enough champions for women out there yet, and it's also about being the kind of person you want to be. Being kind and supportive is just as important in professional relationships as it is in personal relationships.
Do you have any ideas on how we can be better at doing this? Carve out a little bit of time for thankfulness and gratitude. Speak up and recognize the greatness that you see in others even when they may not see it in themselves. Or take the time to meet with someone and share what you wish you’d known, or provide connections.
What do you think it means to have it all? It’s not possible to have it all at the same time. Not that Lisa Beth would want to, because having it all would mean never being present and truly dedicated to the things that matter. Instead, it’s about focusing on what matters to you personally. Compliance programs are not one size fits all, and neither is life.
How do you balance your multiple roles in life, from motherhood to compliance practitioner? There’s no such thing as work-life balance because you’re constantly deciding what wins and what loses. Instead, integrate your priorities in a way that makes sense in your life.Savor the small moments, especially the things that go right.Find a way to let go of the disappointments and things that go wrong. Give yourself a little dash of grace.Be kind to yourself. If you’re not kind to yourself, you can’t display that kindness to others. How do you alleviate mom guilt? Let go of what everyone else’s perfect looks like. Check your internal messaging, turn off negative thoughts, and say: I am good enough. I am doing amazing things. I am managing in ways that many other people would struggle with.
How did you prioritize selecting volunteer opportunities? If you’re saying yes to everything and giving little pieces of yourself everywhere, you lessen your impact. Lisa Beth had to make some tough choices, but as in gardening, she says, sometimes you have to cut back to grow.
Tell us more about your mindfulness-based approach. Lisa Beth shares some of the practices they have at work where they take the time to recognize each other. It goes so far, and it’s free: it costs nothing to tell someone their work was terrific. It deepens the relationship and allows for a lot of progress in terms of interpersonal interactions within the team and outside the team.
What are your key tactics for keeping all your balls in the air and all your plates spinning? When you can, outsource. (This can be home activities, like a cleaning service.)When you can, delegate.Ask for help, and give help when you can. Help will be there for you if you’re ready to give it as well.Find laughter. There should be laughter in your organization. There should be laughter in your life. Final ThoughtsA recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that single acts of kindness often start a ripple effect. This can be contagious in the workplace, especially when leaders are involved.
ResourcesLisa Beth Lentini (LinkedIn)
