Speaker encourages E.L.C. members to focus on everyday moments
Leadership is not just about big ideas or titles. It is about what happens in everyday moments.
That was the message Kassie Rushing, director of organizational strategy and team member experience at Blue Hen Agency, shared with Meridian Community College’s Eagles Leadership Convocation (E.L.C.) class during its February session.
Rushing, who spoke to the group in the fall, returned to MCC as a featured keynote speaker, focusing on building high-performing teams through daily interactions, especially in meetings. Her topic: Build High-Performing Teams in Practical Ways.
“We spend a lot of time talking about leadership theory and strategy,” Rushing said. “But leadership really shows up in the practical, day-to-day moments. Meetings, one-on-one conversations, and how we handle differences of opinion are what make leadership strong or weak.”
Rushing challenged participants to rethink how meetings are planned and led. She explained that many teams try to accomplish too much in a single meeting, which leads to frustration and burnout.
“Most weekly meetings are actually five different meetings packed into one,” she said. “You’re doing announcements, brainstorming, decision-making, and team building all at the same time. Our brains aren’t designed to work that way.”
She encouraged leaders to clearly define the purpose of each meeting, whether it is for brainstorming, making decisions or sharing information, and to separate those goals when possible.
“When meetings are meaningful and designed the right way, they move the work forward,” Rushing said. “They don’t drain people. They energize them.”
Rushing also reminded participants that leadership is not tied to a job title. “Leadership is not a position. It’s a posture,” she said.
Dr. Leia Hill, vice president for institutional advancement and operations and executive director of the MCC Foundation, welcomed Rushing back and emphasized the value of the session. “This is one of the most practical sessions you can walk away from and use immediately,” Dr. Hill said. “It’s about building your team, creating trust, and learning how to lead in ways that really matter.”
The E.L.C. Class of 2026 includes Veronica Fox, assistant director of student accounts; Jawanda Huggins, biological science instructor; Eric Jones, welding program coordinator and instructor; Chris King, director of bands; Parker Manley, workforce project manager; James Runnels, director of IT and systems analyst; Rhonda Smith, college and career navigator; Crystal Sterling, mathematics instructor; and Dr. Tommy Winston, Physical Therapist Assistant Program coordinator and instructor.
MCC President Dr. Tom Huebner and Dr. Hill serve as facilitators for the Eagles Leadership Convocation.
For more information about the MCC Eagles Leadership Convocation, visit meridiancc.edu/elc.