Dining with Della: Margaret Sidler at Campagnolo
August 08, 2016
She walked away from primo jobs to pursue new opportunities always believing in herself and her abilities. Going into the restaurant biz not knowing how to open a bottle of wine, running a big nursing ward in charge of 20 nurses at 25 years old, selling American Express to small businesses in communities where she would get lost regularly, she never hesitated to jump in.
Margie uses positive visualization to meet her goals. Wearing the tips off her shoes, she sold more during her first week at Amex than her more experienced colleagues did in a month. She imagined herself on the Amex stage giving her acceptance speech for being a star employee. Even picturing the blue (Amex blue, of course) dress she would wear. Naturally, she ended up on stage, more than once.
The symbolic star still figures prominently on her bedroom door. Margie Sidler, star quality, all the way.
What one bit of communication impacted your life?
A tennis fanatic, Margie came to the sport later in life. She takes great pride in winning a recent championship beating out her 30 to 40 year old opponents. After regaling me with every lob of the ball and score, she gets to the crux of why the game is a communication/life lesson for her. The game had matched up and they were at a tie breaker. She knew she had won before hitting the ball. Feeling her momentum shift, she could see her opponent crumbling under the pressure. Margie knows how to stay present and keep her composure.
She goes to that focused place in all parts of her life. Listening deeper and getting clearer especially when the going gets tough. She takes risks and is willing to be vulnerable. Being courageous enough to step out of her comfort zone has provided many rewards... like winning a tournament against people 20 or 30 years her junior.
What did not work...
Margie's difficult communication moment came via a corporate performance review. It was one of those 360 type processes where they ask your staff to provide input as well. She was critiqued for being a micro manager. It hurt. Here was this compassionate, caring boss being told she was off base. After a night of crying, she went to her staff and asked them to mentor her. They did, and she became a top leader in the company. Listening and letting go of control allowed her to excel.
(Note from Della: I learned early in my career - from a great employee - no one should ever be surprised in a review. Openly communicating to your boss or other work colleagues should be an ongoing process, not only at a "once a year" meeting!)
What advice would you give to your younger self to enhance your ability to communicate with others – and why?
The first bit of advice to pop into her head was to have the highest level of self belief. Never doubt yourself. Define your own script. What other people say or think about you does not matter. She firmly believes God only gives you what you can handle. Life is going to deal you some unpleasantries and you have the option of how you react. You can be angry but Margie always goes to a place of gratefulness.
I know for a fact she goes to a good place in bad situations. When Margie was coming over to visit us one night via the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, there was a sudden stop in traffic. The driver behind her was distracted and, obviously, did not notice the braking until the last minute. He screeched up behind her, stopping millimeters from her bumper. Her first reaction was to thank God, then ask the speeding young man to please, please slow down.
Others might have a different initial reaction.
Margie is the 5th child in a family of 7 kids. Deeply influenced by her mother, she holds firm in her values and the importance of doing good in the world. Her conviction to those values is evident in everything she does. She insisted on sitting by my side while my husband went through heart surgery. I did not want to ask for support but she knew exactly what I needed. Her nursing background, sense of humour and positive energy was the perfect antidote for a most difficult day. Margie, thanks for not taking "no" for an answer.
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