Leadership & Professional Growth with Aaron Cox

This transcript has been lightly edited for readability and to correct obvious transcription errors while preserving the meaning of the original conversation.

Episode 20 — Leadership & Professional Growth with Aaron Cox
Clean Speaker-Labeled Transcript
Guest: Aaron Cox
Automated QA: Passed

00:00.108 Aaron Cox
That leaders can see those things that are not before that they are. They can see that end before it is. And I know that many of the folks that'll be listening to your podcast will will think of a project or or a something that went on in their own community. And one of the key elements of getting that thing accomplished and them leading through it was that there was them or a group of invested individuals who saw that. thing as a reality before it ever happened and they were willing to take the steps necessary to get there.
00:35.758 Brandon Burton
Today we have Aaron Cox with us to discuss what makes a good leader and the importance of continuing to develop professionally. Let's cue the intro. This is the Chamber Chat Podcast, the show dedicated to chamber professionals to spark ideas and to get actionable tips and strategies to better serve your members and community.
01:01.784 Brandon Burton
Thank you for joining us for episode twenty of the Chamber Chat Podcast. I'm Brandon Burton, and it is my goal to introduce you to people and ideas so you can better serve your chamber members and your community. If you're new to the Chamber Chat Podcast, please visit Chamberchat Podcast.com/slash start to learn more about the show, wait learn what you can expect from the show, and you can re receive some valuable tips. for some non-dues revenue ideas that you can use at your chamber. Again, that's chamberchappodcast.com slash start. And before we jump into the show today, let's take just a moment to learn about our sponsor for this episode. Every chamber is looking for new ways to increase their non-dues revenue. Has your chamber found a good affinity program? I have a great affinity program to offer your chamber that will continue to increase in revenue year after year. I want to introduce you to Swipeit for all of your credit card processing needs. Swypit has a unique affinity program that 1. Helps your chamber members be more profitable, and three provides recurring non-dues revenue to your chamber. To learn more, please visit chamberchatpodcast.com slash cc for credit card. Again, chamberchappodcast.com slash cc and get swiping with swipe it. And we're back. Our guest today is Aaron Cox. Aaron currently serves as a Senior Vice President of Member Development for the Texas Association of Business, or TAB, and the Chief Administrator for the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives, or TCCE. Positions he's held since November 2011. For the Texas Association of Business, Aaron oversees membership sales, onboarding, and retention efforts for the association. In addition, he works with a team of professionals to align member benefits and
03:10.818 Brandon Burton
To fit the needs of Texas businesses. Also, as part of his role, he oversees the coordination of grassroots advocacy networks, creates legislative research, insight, and education materials for chambers of commerce. Ultimately, he works to inspire businesses and chambers to action on legislative action taken by TAB. TCCE is the Texas Association for Chamber Professionals. In his role with the association, Aaron works with the TCCE board and oversees training and professional education, operational and organizational consultation, and develops operational resources to empower chamber professionals in their daily work while helping their organizations become more effective, efficient, and profitable. Prior to joining Texas Texas Association of Business and Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives, Aaron worked for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce in a similar role. Before that, he served as an associate executive director for two not-for-profits, where he led initiatives in workforce development, transportation, independent child care, and several youth programs, among other things. He was a chief legislative agent as well and worked with legislators at state and federal levels on numerous policy and funding initiatives. Aaron, please say hello to the chamber chat podcast audience and share something interesting about yourself that might not have been in your bio so we get to know you a little bit better.
04:47.759 Aaron Cox
Good afternoon, everyone, or good day, everyone on the Chamber Chat Podcast. It's my pleasure to be here. and as I think of of something interesting about myself that was not in the bio, there's not much. I'm pretty dull individual. But I guess one that's in there is that I really enjoy fishing. And that is a That's a a good one that I think some people may not know about me.
05:21.218 Brandon Burton
Right. So fresh water or salt water or or either.
05:24.034 Aaron Cox
Both. Yeah, either. Anything on the water. and typically putting forth a lot of effort with not much yield, but it's still a beautiful day to be out there.
05:35.726 Brandon Burton
That's right. As long as you can stay out of the sun, you're in good shape. Yeah. Well, that's great, Aaron. as I read the introduction and and your bio, I don't if there is anything that I've missed, I'd love for you to fill in any gaps. But also if you'd like to maybe further explain your role at the Texas Association of Business and Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives for
05:39.648 Aaron Cox
Absolutely.
06:00.428 Brandon Burton
Chamber professionals who might not be in Texas, they may not be as familiar with these two organizations. So do you just wanna give maybe a a quick summary of both?
06:09.816 Aaron Cox
Sure. The Texas Association of Business is our state chamber of commerce in the state of Texas. We are a general business association, like all others, serving companies from you know the sole proprietor, mom and pop on the street or on Main Street, to our large multinational corporations. we serve them with the the primary mission of engaging in business advocacy at the Capitol. both in Washington, DC and here in Austin, to create a business environment that allows them to flourish. So our primary mission is advocacy and ensuring that the regulatory and and legislative environment are great for them to do business. But we also provide a multitude of services to help them be more operationally efficient and effective day to day. TCCE is our state association for chamber professionals. and our role there is really to to educate and to empower our members to to learn and to grow so that they are more effective in their roles in their local communities. And so we we do a lot of professional education and training. We we do a lot of resources. to help with everything from the minor things like, you know, I'm getting ready to undertake a an overhaul of my bylaws and and looking at those operational documents like that or those governance documents like that, to just providing direct consultation, whether it be a board retreat or a strategic planning session or or or just a shoulder to lean on at times, I think, with a a phone call.
08:05.278 Brandon Burton
All right. So it sounds very much like you are in the business of helping to develop leaders in the chamber industry. so I think naturally that fits in with our topic for discussion today, which is leadership and professional growth. So can you take just a minute and explain why this topic or these topics of leadership and professional growth are so important to you?
08:30.762 Aaron Cox
Absolutely. I I think leadership for sure is an important topic to me today because we we find ourselves in a place where both in the chamber industry, in other industries, in our our government and and everywhere we look, there we we have a need for for solid and strong leaders. That are going to be effective and to help us move toward where we want to be. I won't say that there's necessarily a leadership void in our world, but there's certainly a need to grow leaders, to grow leaders of of character and integrity, and to have those that that are are courageous and that are are willing to take a stand for the things that are right and willing to forge the path. That gets us to the next level. You know, if we look through history, even those are our two kind of characteristics that that were held within a many of our our great leaders, and among them being courage, and and just being courageous to step out and to take a stand. And then that courage was often fueled by their passion, their passion for community, their passion for country, their They're passion people to to help us grow and excel in all that we do. So I I think that that's one of the reasons why I'm I'm so passionate about it. And then of course for our industry, we want to develop great leaders because the the Chamber of Commerce is one of the most critical organizations in every community. I think that's that's often over, you know, it's kind of overlooked. I I think in the day to day grind of the chamber professional, it kind of gets lost in the shuffle of all of the things that are going on around them. But but they are critical to the the survival, the advancement, the growth, the development of communities. And they're that critical component needs great leadership, both at the staff level as well as the volunteer leader level.
10:56.92 Brandon Burton
Perfect. I love how you with the in regards to leaders and developing strong, solid leaders, talking about integrity, courage, and passion. So as you go about trying to help develop these leaders and helping to instill some of these character traits, where's the starting point? Do you have to start with the passion or what what's your experience as as you come across people that you're trying to help develop? Where's the starting point?
11:27.01 Aaron Cox
You know, I I think that the starting point is is really wherever they are at that moment. typically, you know, I I think that the passion can be fueled. it's great if that is there. And I I think that it does exist within the individual, when they step out. But but oftentimes it's discovered. You know, they they realize that once they're into it, that that they have a passion for a particular area or a particular thing. But when I look at leadership in in a grander view, you know, I think there are a few other characteristics that that play into there. and if we're going to be really great leaders and we're looking at our communities from a chamber perspective, I I look at kind of a a series of things that helps us to be who we want to be as leaders. And and the first is it kind of starts with a vision. You know, and having a vision of our community where it is today and and where it can go, where we're looking for it to go, and and collectively hearing the voices of the people around us to know where we need to go. And then that vision guides our direction. And so we have vision and direction, then we have a passion for that vision that allows us to to fuel it and and to go forward. And then the the courage steps part steps in because we're not going to we're not always going to be popular, we're not always going to be suggesting things or recommending things that are are gonna be the the way that people see and that's another beauty of of a true leader and and a leader with that vision is that let leaders can see those things that are not before that they are. They can see that end before It is. And I know that many of the folks that'll be listening to your podcast will will will think of a project or or a something that went on in their own community. And one of the key elements of getting that thing accomplished and them leading through it was that there was them or a group of invested individuals who saw that thing as a reality before it ever happened and they were willing to take the steps necessary to get there.
13:52.694 Brandon Burton
Right. I I think as a leader, like you were alluding to, you need to be kind of on that watchtower to look out and be able to see things as they're coming, be able to see the trends before they come to your community to try to stay ahead of that curve. And as far as developing leaders go, I know, at least in the chamber world, and and I know throughout all different professions, but since we're talking about chambers of commerce, I know a lot of these chamber executives, maybe they don't have as much experience or they're newer, or some have been in the business for a long time and they have still somebody, another chamber executive, that they look up to. They idolize their their mentor whether they know it or not and kind of lift them up on a platform of sorts. I don't think that's a bad thing at all. I think it's great to have mentors, but What would you say to that person looking up to these mentors up on a platform about being able to lift themselves up and be able to be that person that other chamber executives look to as a mentor?
15:03.734 Aaron Cox
Absolutely. I think the first thing that I would say to them is don't idolize, understand them. we we recognize and we appreciate great leaders. We recognize and appreciate the knowledge that people have and the skill sets that they have, but but we don't need to sit those on a shelf as as idols, you know, and and kind of worship them. We we want to have them as true mentors and so engage with them and and ask questions. Ask them, you know, about their journey, ask them how they develop those skills, ask them you know, what pitfalls to avoid in that quest, and then take them on as our own, you know, to to start to develop them in our own style, in in our own way of of doing things. You know, John Maxwell says it very well that you know, he boils it down and says, Leadership is influence, you know, nothing more and and nothing less. And I I think If we can and get a hold of that in the many dimensions that exist within it, you know, that that mentor, that person that we look up to quite often is influencing, you know, whether they know it or not, just like you said. and so we take their influence and we bring it into our own and you know, glean some of those characteristics that we want and that we admire and try to emulate them, try to learn how they implement some of the the things that they do. and then use it in turn to influence others to shape the world around us. I would say though that that influence is is certainly a wonderful thing to have, but we want to influence and we want to lead And have it be shaped and informed by education. You know, I I think that that's one of the things that that we can learn from a lot of leaders is that if you you look at them, they have a a broader understanding of things outside of just what's in front of them. And so they're able to take bits and pieces from those things around them that they've learned and compile them to move things forward. So
17:15.508 Aaron Cox
long answer to a short question, but I I think it's it's it's not to to idolize them, but to engage with them and to to you know, to really learn from them.
17:26.306 Brandon Burton
Yeah, as as you explained that, I love that phrase. Don't idolize, but understand. And as that was sinking into me, I was thinking, you know, idolize you're being idle. You know, you're you're not moving if you're sitting there idolizing somebody. But reach out, engage with them, understand what it is that was allowed them to get to where they are in their leadership role and see what you can adopt into your own leadership strategy and abilities. and and get that education. And I think that that makes for a great transition, I think, into the professional development. As you have these these different roles, especially with TCCE, you are over creating some of these programs for professional development. What are some good resources for people to chamber executives, chamber professionals to continue in their professional growth and that journey?
18:26.168 Aaron Cox
Wow, there are there are a ton of of resources out there for them to you know to to look to, to glean from. I would say on the the in-person face-to-face side, those who are in Texas and in our surrounding states, I'll even say I I would say engage with with some of the TCCE conferences and and face to face meetings that we have. our annual conference is coming up on June the 18th. And that will have you know a multitude of courses that folks can can sit and talk with or sit in and participate in where you'll learn about the basics of operations, but also talk about how to be more effective in leader. Talk about learning your leadership style and and how we need to to operate with within leadership. So so certainly TCCE I I would say ACCE, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, is another great place to learn. For those who are outside of the state of Texas, engage with your statewide association for for two reasons. Number one, there's a a ton of professional education that can go on, but for the TCCE events, the ACCE events, your state associations events. US chamber events that we can go to. That classroom learning is is very important. that classroom learning is a a great tool in your development. But the the key, I think, and and and a and a key part of that tool is sitting in the room with other professionals. there is a a saying, it's actually scriptural saying, but it it it's iron sharpens iron. You know, and so we need to to embrace those moments where we can sit with other leaders and and hear what they're doing. Cause, you know, kind of going back to what we were talking about with not idolizing, when we sit in the room with other leaders, one of the things that we learn is that some of the same challenges we face, they face. And and so we can see how they're attacking it or or how they're fed up with it. And we may have a solution.
20:50.838 Aaron Cox
Because you made a great point. When you're when you're idolizing, you are sitting idle. And I I think what what sitting idle often in those circumstances may do is it's it creates a sense of inferiority. It creates a sense of you know, I'm I'm not as good or not good enough in aspiring to that. And if and if that sits and fessers for long enough, that it can harbor resit resentment. It can You know, start to to breed almost jealousy where you're you're going, well, and then we start looking at well, they they can do that because they have this type of community, or they can do that because they have more money or they have more staff. Start looking for the excuse. And and we when we get beyond those things, that sitting in the room with that individual and and just engaging with them and hearing from your peers, you understand you have a lot of the same challenges, you have a lot of the same, you know, some of the same victories.
21:33.08 Brandon Burton
Start finding excuses. Yeah.
21:50.606 Aaron Cox
But you can sharpen one another. And the other thing that it it provides is that critical network of support and and advice. none of us, you know, I I hear, I often hear stories of you know, self-made people. And and every time I see it, I go, it's such hogwash because none of us do this alone. None of us do it by ourselves. And I I love that's one of the the reasons I love the book, Outliers. You know, because it it takes this concept of you know, the the the self made man and the the self made woman and and it turns that that thinking on its head and and shows the process of some of the people who we regard as great in our world who people say, they did it all by themselves, you know, Bill Gates being one. he started off in his garage and now he's a gazillionaire. Well, no, there was a lot of people that that helped him along the way that touched and guided and moved and taught him how to lead. And you know, so we all have those influences and and we we don't do it alone, which is the great thing about that network. So TCCE, your local or your statewide association, your your fellow chamber folks, ACCE, the US Chamber is another great resource for training and education. there are are tons of leadership books. I I would say we can't read enough. and then seminars that that come out of different leaders. And you know, I won't use one over another, but you know, I I tend to to read a lot of John Maxwell. I I think that that he has some great information on leadership and how to develop ourselves as leaders and and really conceptual And and I guess one of the reasons that I I love it the most is that it talks about he he talks a lot about developing yourself as a leader, but then also developing within the context of people. because that's what it's all about. You know, we we often get engaged with processes and with projects and and all of those things. But when all of those things are boiled down.
24:15.998 Aaron Cox
At the end of the day, it is what is the impact that we are having on people? how are we making things better for those that we love? And you know, even if they're a person in the grocery store whose face that you you don't know and and name that that you haven't learned, the work that we do in the Chamber of Commerce can impact that person. And and we have to be mindful of that. And I I think we have an awesome charge. We we have a a huge responsibility that that's not to be taken lightly, but it also gives us the great privilege, I mean the absolute privilege of working within our communities and with our local government and state government structures to leave a legacy for people that will carry on beyond us. And and I think that's just so awesome. And and that's why I love one of the big reasons why I love the chamber world.
25:17.654 Brandon Burton
Love that. So a couple things you you said I just wanted to to highlight. You had mentioned that you can't read enough. Reminds me and it it can't be said enough that leaders are readers. And as you find these great leadership books, and and I know you've you know resonate well with John Maxwell. Yeah, everybody needs to find that leadership style, that type, that author, that book that you resonate with, and consume it. You know, take it in any way you can. I know Yeah, reading's great. There's audio books. I mean, there's all different ways to to participate now with these these types of of formats. And then the other thing I was gonna ask you, you know, some some good reasons to attend state you know, these chamber conferences. And I think you highlighted several good reasons, so I don't think I need to ask that question. But one of the things that stood out to me was being able to sit with others, with other leaders. And it goes back to the comment about being a leader and being able to see some of those trends that are coming beforehand. Because if you're in a room of you know other chamber professionals and they're asking questions and talking about you know challenges that they're coming up against that maybe you haven't seen yet at your chamber, it tells you what's on the horizon, something that you can look and know is gonna be coming your way and be prepared for it before it gets there. So I think those are are great points. Yeah,
26:44.622 Aaron Cox
And and you know, our our leadership, and and that's one of the keys in in terms of our leadership, is it it has to be informed. You know, I I think far too often we we see people stepping out in leadership or or on a leadership type mission, anecdotally. You know, there it's not based on real data, it's not based on information, it's not based on the trends. And so our ability to have a greater understanding of those things and like you said, to see things coming down the pipe, see what's happening across the country or within communities, you know, our legislation that's going on right now, we we can see some of the waves. We can see, whether it be in Texas or or in other states, you know, what the impacts of things like immigration are are starting now. But then if we're looking at the trends out, we'll see. How the dynamics shift and and that will help us stay ahead of the curve. That will will help us because one of the the biggest challenges in leading, whether it be through you know, sustaining what we have or growing something new or or or just being a leader, is the ability to to calm fears. And and I I think increasingly as leaders, We have to to be able to provide real data, real reasons and solutions as to why this is okay and move forward with it and and how we can change the dynamic to to fit the the coming need, you know, the other side of that and and being well informed is that it allows us to be problem solvers. I I think you know, a lot of of those who will be listening have read and and have implemented parts of ACCE's Horizon initiative. And one of the the key findings in there is that, you know, in the future chamber leaders are going to have to be, they use a little different term, but it boils down to kick butt problem solvers. and we can't solve problems if we don't have knowledge. we can't solve problems if if we don't have
29:05.632 Aaron Cox
a a group of of trusted colleagues that we can go to and and bounce ideas and and bounce issues and just really be able to to collectively you know attack an issue from angles and then come up with real life solutions. So that that's a critical part of of why we learn of of why we we we look to grow our our knowledge base is that we're we're gonna have to be problem solvers. We we're going to have to be those who can can provide real facts and real data.
29:39.294 Brandon Burton
Right. That's it that's one of the common things that I've heard from several people that we've had on the the Chamber Chat podcast is the importance of being a problem solver and and it shows that people are getting their education. You know, they're they're looking at what ACC is putting out there and reading the horizon initiative and and being able to try to stay ahead of that curve. I know we need to kind of start wrapping things up here a little bit, but I wanted to ask you What is one action item? I think we've talked about several today, but what is one action item that listeners can do to become better leaders at their chamber?
30:16.056 Aaron Cox
You know, I I think one action item, certainly I think we we'd be remiss if we didn't say here is to engage in in training and and in professional education, develop and grow, develop some expertise in in an area or a couple of areas. But i if I were going to challenge us to do one thing in in terms of an action item of pleading, and it's gonna be a little bit different, I I hope. but it would it would be that we learn to be better listeners. leadership very often is not our ability to stand on the mountain and proclaim what's next or where we need to go. But but leadership is often formed and developed and and and best implemented when we have a full understanding. of the landscape that we're operating in. So if we will listen to those that are around us, if we will listen to the the data and information that's presented to us, and if we'll listen to those folks that are our mentors and our idols and our you know the the folks that are around us, we'll have a better sense of how to develop direction, of how to cast the vision of where to be passionate and when not to be passionate. and then ultimately where to expend our energies and and stepping out and and moving forward.
31:51.99 Brandon Burton
Right. So educate yourself and become better listeners and and find where those passions are and when to apply I love it. Now I ask this question to everybody that I have on the show that is as we look in our our magic crystal ball, we look into our the future, how do you see the future of chambers of commerce and their purpose?
32:17.304 Aaron Cox
That's a a a really tough one. because you know, we're in this this constantly changing world, you know, and chambers have been around for a couple of hundred years and we've seen several iterations. But going forward, I think that at least in the near term, our ability to remain that that balanced group that can convene people and and reasonably discuss issues that are going to move us forward and to solve problems will allow us to be the key link that we are in the in our communities today. I I think going forward, we will remain in that role. But we will also have to to speak a little more and and be visionaries and address real problems. we we have to get our shift and our focus back to our mission. And that's where I see Chambers heading. We we wrap it in a lot of different things, but I see us heading back to our mission. Which is to serve and to advocate on behalf of business and to engage in projects that matter to our communities. And so I I see chambers stepping it up even more. And I know a lot are doing a lot of great things, but I see us stepping it up in the area of workforce development and in education, in helping employers to to see the next iteration of of how to pursue those folks and to to get the talent that we need to survive. I see us really becoming more focused on on some of those initiatives that will connect our communities at a deeper level and and make our communities livable and you know places where folks want to be because a kid a critical link in in what we all do from here forward is is
34:32.534 Aaron Cox
recruiting talent, developing and recruiting talent. So I see us being a lot more engaged in that area, but on the policy side, on the programmatic side, on you know, kind of many aspects of what we do. Not a a very complex or, you know, philosophical answer, but
34:51.989 Brandon Burton
No, but I think every point that you gave in that answer goes back to continuing your professional growth and development, educating yourself. You can't be that problem solver if you don't know how to solve the problems. You know, find those resources and put yourself in contact with the right people to be able to to do all those things that Aaron just explained in that in that great answer. I appreciate that. so Aaron, I wanted to thank you. For spending time with us today here on Chamber Chat Podcast. I also want to thank everyone for listening. I'm glad that you all are here. The show notes for this episode can be found at Chamberchatpodcast.com/slash episode 20. And Aaron, I I'd like to ask everyone who's on the show if they don't mind putting out some contact information. So as listeners listen, they don't sit around and be idle, but they can actually act and they can engage and understand more about what you shared with us today. How can listeners get in contact with you?
35:53.61 Aaron Cox
Absolutely. folks can reach me in our office anytime at five one two six three seven seven seven one one or by email at acoxacox at textbiz dot org and that's T X B like Boy, I like igloo z like zebra dot or g and Call me, email me anytime, and I am happy to help. And if I may, I'll I'll take just a minute to to do what I do a lot of times when I get opportunities like this to speak directly to chamber professionals and and that is just to simply say thank you. thank you for the work that you do leading our communities that that goes unseen quite often. Thank you for the long hours and and the really difficult job that you make look so easy, that you do with a smile, and that you serve us all well. Because all of our states, and I I sit at a state chamber and I I interact with our friends at the the US chamber and and others nationally a lot. It all starts with you. Great states are made of great communities and this nation is made of great states. And I know here in the state of Texas we have some awesome communities that are led by chamber professionals that care. And that are helping them to be that. So so thank each and every one of you who listened to this.
37:25.696 Brandon Burton
I appreciate that, Aaron. I appreciate you thanking all the chamber professionals out there too for their efforts. Again, thank thanks for being with us today. I hope everybody received a lot of valuable information and and ideas out of this episode. Thanks a lot, Aaron.
37:45.496 Brandon Burton
Thank you for listening to this episode today. I hope that you're finding value as you listen to Chamber Chat Podcast. If you are enjoying the show, I would encourage you to tell your colleagues that are in the chamber industry. Also, please hop onto iTunes and leave us a five-star rating and review to help others find this show. Thanks again, and I look forward to chatting with you again next week.