Name: Dr. Monique Rodgers

Title: CEO

Organisation: Shooting Stars Publishing House

Dr. Monique Rodgers is an international bestselling author, She has been named The GOAT of Books; she is a literary genius, dynamic speaker, and visionary entrepreneur with a passion for empowering others to achieve their full potential. With multiple literary accolades and years of experience in the publishing industry, Dr. Rodgers has helped countless aspiring authors turn their dreams into reality. Known for her insightful guidance and inspirational leadership, she is committed to sharing her expertise on writing, publishing, and building successful author brands.

Dr. Rodgers’ books combine practical strategies with motivational wisdom, making her a trusted voice in the literary world. When she’s not writing or mentoring, she dedicates her time to helping others unlock their creative potential and build fulfilling lives. She is the CEO and founder of Shooting Stars Publishing House, WriteOn LLC, Royal Priesthood Attire, Called to Intercede International, Write to Publish, and Accelerate Your Lives Coaching. She is a USA Army Chaplain candidate who is taking the literary world by storm.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

We’ve gone through the interviews and asked the best of the best to come back and answer 7 MORE Questions on Leadership.

I hope Monique's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. As a leader, how do you build trust with employees, customers and other stakeholders?

1. Build Trust with Employees

-Transparency: Share relevant information openly and honestly. Communicate decisions, changes, and the reasons behind them.

- Consistency: Follow through on promises and demonstrate reliability. Your actions should align with your words.

- Empathy: Listen actively, value their input, and show understanding of their concerns and needs.

- Empowerment: Delegate responsibilities, trust their expertise, and provide opportunities for growth.

- Recognition: Celebrate achievements, acknowledge contributions, and provide constructive feedback.

2. Build Trust with Customers

- Deliver on Promises: Ensure your product or service consistently meets or exceeds expectations.

- Authenticity: Be genuine in your interactions. Avoid making exaggerated claims or over-promising.

- Responsiveness: Address customer concerns promptly and thoughtfully. Show them that their satisfaction matters.

- Transparency: Share accurate and honest information about your offerings, policies, and practices.

- Personal Connection: Make customers feel valued through personalized interactions and attentive service.

3. Build Trust with Other Stakeholders

- Collaborative Relationships: Engage stakeholders in decision-making processes and demonstrate a commitment to mutual goals.

- Accountability: Own up to mistakes, take corrective action, and learn from setbacks.

- Ethical Practices: Adhere to ethical standards in all dealings, maintaining integrity and fairness.

- Clear Communication: Keep stakeholders informed about plans, progress, and challenges. Use language that is accessible and transparent.

- Consistency: Maintain steady and predictable behavior across all interactions, earning credibility over time.

The Key Principles

- Lead by Example: Demonstrate the values you want others to uphold.

- Be Accessible: Maintain an open-door policy for employees, customers, and stakeholders. - Stay Humble: Acknowledge when you’re wrong and show a willingness to learn and adapt.

The Outcome

When trust is built and nurtured, relationships flourish, collaboration strengthens, and your leadership inspires loyalty and confidence. Trust is the foundation of long-term success in any organization.

2. What do 'VISION' and 'MISSION' mean to you? And what does it actually look like to use them in real-world business?

Vision: "To be the world’s most trusted and innovative publishing house, amplifying voices that inspire, educate, and transform lives."

Mission: "Empowering authors to share their stories with the world by providing exceptional publishing services, fostering creativity, and connecting with readers across the globe."

What ‘VISION’ Means to Me A vision is the big-picture aspiration—the ultimate goal or dream you’re striving toward. It defines the "why" of an organization and paints a compelling picture of the future. Vision inspires and aligns, acting as a guiding light that motivates people to move forward, even during challenging times.

In a real-world business, vision looks like:

- Clarity of Purpose: Having a well-defined statement that explains where the organization is headed (e.g., "To be the global leader in renewable energy solutions").

- Inspiration: Leaders articulate the vision in a way that excites employees, customers, and stakeholders.

- Strategic Alignment: Ensuring every project, decision, and initiative serves the broader vision.

### What ‘MISSION’ Means to Me A mission is the daily action plan—the tangible steps or strategies used to achieve the vision. It defines "what we do, for whom, and how we do it" and grounds the organization in its current reality.

In a real-world business, the mission looks like:

- Operational Focus: Clear goals and priorities that guide the team’s work.

- Consistency: Day-to-day activities and customer experiences that reflect the mission (e.g., "Providing affordable, accessible healthcare solutions worldwide").

- Accountability: Teams and individuals measure success based on how well they fulfill the mission.

Using Vision and Mission in Real-World Business

1. Leadership and Decision-Making

- Example: A company with a vision to "revolutionize education globally" and a mission to "create affordable digital learning tools for underserved communities" might prioritize investments in low-cost technology rather than luxury add-ons.

2. Employee Engagement

- Example: Leaders can tie employees’ roles to the larger vision and mission, fostering a sense of purpose. For instance, a customer service representative at a renewable energy company could feel more motivated knowing their work contributes to reducing global carbon emissions.

3. Brand and Marketing Alignment

- Example: A brand with a vision to "create a healthier world" and a mission to "develop nutritious, accessible food products" will market itself authentically, highlighting sustainability and health benefits in campaigns.

4. Customer and Stakeholder Relationships

- Example: Sharing your vision with customers (e.g., "a future of sustainable living") builds emotional connections, while the mission ensures you consistently deliver products or services that align with that promise.

5. Long-Term Strategy

- Example: A tech startup with a vision of "empowering small businesses globally" might expand internationally over time, but its mission will determine how it supports businesses daily (e.g., through affordable software tools).

In Summary

- Vision is the dream; mission is the doing.

- Together, they provide clarity, direction, and motivation.

- When embedded into the culture, strategy, and operations, vision and mission create a roadmap for long-term success while delivering short-term impact.

Real-world businesses thrive when every decision, action, and relationship is aligned with their vision and mission.

3. How can a leader empower the people they're leading?

They can empower them with authenticity. People want to follow someone that they can trust and someone that is notable of being followed.

4. Who are some of the coaches or mentors in your life who have had a positive influence on your leadership? Can you please tell a meaningful story about one of them?

My greatest coaches have been my mom, Apostle Genise Rodgers, Dr. Shirley Clark, Dr. Patricia Bailey, and Ambassador Sheila McGruder.

5. Leadership is often more about what you DON'T do. How do you maintain focus in your role?

I start my day in prayer, and then I spend time executing and implementing the tasks for the day. I maintain my focus by having a clear vision of what needs to be done and then executing it accordingly.

6. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Everyone plans differently. How do you plan for the week, month and years ahead in your role?

I have a weekly and monthly calendar as well as a yearly calendar that helps me to plan for things a year ahead.

7. What advice would you give to a young leader who is struggling to delegate effectively?

1. Shift Your Mindset About Delegation

- Recognize Your Limits: Understand that you can’t do everything alone, and delegation isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of trust and strategic thinking.

- Focus on Strengths: Delegation allows you to focus on tasks that align with your strengths and priorities while empowering others to grow in their roles.

2. Start Small

- Delegate Non-Critical Tasks First: Build confidence in your team by starting with smaller, less mission-critical tasks.

- Practice Letting Go: Release the need for perfection and embrace the idea that others might approach tasks differently but still achieve great results.

3. Choose the Right People

- Assess Strengths and Skills: Match tasks to team members who have the expertise, interest, or potential to excel.

- Communicate Expectations Clearly: Clearly define the task, expected outcomes, deadlines, and any resources or support they may need.

4. Empower and Support Your Team

- Provide Autonomy: Avoid micromanaging. Trust your team members to find their own path to completing the task.

- Be Available: Offer guidance and answer questions, but resist the urge to take over the task.

5. Learn from Feedback

- Review the Process: After the task is completed, discuss what went well and what could be improved.

- Be Open to Mistakes: Use mistakes as learning opportunities for both you and your team.

6. Focus on the Bigger Picture

- Develop Your Team: Delegation isn’t just about task completion; it’s about building the skills, confidence, and engagement of your team.

- Trust is Key: The more you delegate effectively, the more your team will trust you, and the more you’ll trust them.

Practical Example: If you’re leading a project, instead of taking charge of all aspects:

1. Assign one person to manage timelines.

2. Delegate research to another team member.

3. Have a third person handle communication with stakeholders.

By sharing responsibility, you free up your time to focus on strategy while fostering ownership and collaboration within the team.

Remember:

- Delegation is a skill that improves with practice.

- Trust and communication are the foundation.

- When you delegate effectively, everyone grows—including you.

You’ve got this! 💪