Katt Herndon

I often refer to myself as a “Jill of all trades.” I have done a little of this and a little of that. I have been in many different positions in different industries, and I have learned a lot over the years. One of the biggest “ah-ha” lessons for me has been overcoming situations that make me uncomfortable. You know those moments at work, home or with friends. Whether it’s implementing new policies, having difficult conversations with friends and family or changing the paint color in your living room, uncomfortable moments are necessary for change. The small changes that have big impacts make me nervous, especially when I don’t 100% know the outcome.

Over the couple of years I have been with Trinity, I have asked myself, “How do I implement change, and when do I do it?” I have realized that there is no easy way to answer those questions. A short while after I came into my position, I could tell that I would have to make changes so that I could better my team and, ultimately, the business. I knew that change was necessary to grow.

I remember sitting in a session during an Elevate conference, and the speaker was talking about the need to let go of that long-time employee who was dragging the company down. You know the one: The one that has been there a while, so you tend to overlook those little imperfections. The thought of letting go of one of my longest-running employees made me uncomfortable simply because I was used to him being there. Regardless of his bad days, he was a constant face. I sat around that night with my boss, and we discussed this session. He, too, instantly knew which employee was hindering progress within my division. Unfortunately, a tragic accident forced me to run without this employee before I was ready to let go. I was uncomfortable. I did not like the idea of running that truck without having a replacement already trained. But life isn’t always fair, so you pick the pieces up and make a change.

This was a major learning moment for me. I came in the following Monday completely prepared to run a truck myself until I knew I had someone trained to take his spot. I ran the truck, trained my new employees on how to service a property correctly, and eventually gave the keys to a new crew leader. That uncomfortable moment led to me finally being able to implement those changes I had been longing for. That was the beginning of growth, not only for myself but for my division.

As a female in this industry, I constantly fight to prove that I belong here. Its easy to see that we are in a male-dominated industry; for some people, that alone is enough to make them feel uncomfortable. For me, it’s always been a place where I feel happy. I can admit that at one point, I was a shy young woman just starting out, but as I came out of my shell and pushed through tough situations, I changed into the strong leader I am now. Be true to yourself and work through the challenging moments; it pays off in the end!