Why "Aperture EQ"?

I live in the Snoqualmie valley, which is located at the very edge of the Cascade mountain range in Washington state. If you've never been here, you should really come for a visit - it is truly breathtaking! There are a few local photographers that I follow on Instagram and they all have such a beautiful way of portraying the natural beauty in our little corner of the world. It's incredible the way they capture the elk crossing the valley floor in the early morning fog or the water cascading from Snoqualmie Falls after a heavy rain. These professionals have learned how to master their equipment, to adjust their lenses to allow the perfect amount of light into the frame. These photographers make me see my home in a whole new light, as they use their art to tell a story I failed to see outside their lens. 

The student in me is fascinated by the mechanisms behind these perfect pictures, and I've come to learn that a camera's "aperture" is the opening in the lens which allows light to pass through. Similar to how the pupils of our eyes dilate, the camera's aperture expands or shrinks to allow light to filter into the body of the camera. Aperture alters the exposure of your images by making them brighter or darker, and it also adds dimension to your photos by controlling the depth of field of the image. 

The teacher in me relates with this visual of an aperture because as I think back on the training and coaching I've provided to managers and employees over the years there is a general theme about making adjustments to the way they perceive the person and the situation. Often times, people find a communication style or leadership approach that works for them, so they assume it works for their entire team as well. But unfortunately, there's not a "one size fits all" approach to leadership or management. Just as a photographer needs to continually adjust the aperture of their lens to capture the right light, as leaders we must also adjust our lens to ensure an accurate focus on each unique employee in varying situations. The wider the lens, the more blurry the focus; the narrower the lens, the sharper the focus. That "sweet spot" lies somewhere in the middle. Enter Aperture EQ.

I've spent most of my career working with leaders to provide techniques on how to continually "adjust our lenses" to better serve our team and meet our objectives. I believe that one of my strengths as an educator is to combine theory and best practices and relate them to life outside the classroom. I strive to ensure that participants in my trainings see the connections in their daily lives and not only feel empowered to make positive changes on their team, but are equipped with tangible tools to help them achieve success. 

While I am proud of my entire body of work in human resources, it is through my teaching and coaching that I’ve learned the most. Everyone learns differently and when I am coaching or training, it is my job to meet people where they are at. I strive to figure out their needs and make sure I show up prepared to add value to their lives. It takes imagination and humor to keep folks checked in and empathy and patience to provide useful feedback. These are the tools I bring to my work at Aperture EQ and the employees, managers, and organizations I serve.