When Matching Goes Right—A Leadership Story That Changed Me

This is a story from me, Michael...

Early in my career, I was the new guy—just a few weeks into my first full-time faculty role at Rio Salado College—when my department chair handed me a high-stakes project. It wasn’t a spreadsheet task or a low-risk trial run. It was an international student exchange initiative that he had started and could no longer lead. It involved cross-border travel, intercultural coordination, student safety, logistics, and reputational risk. It was called Hands Across the Border, and it was his baby.

He gave it to me.

At the time, I was honored and terrified. I’d never led anything like this before. But looking back now, I can see why it worked—and why that moment shaped how I lead today.

He didn’t just delegate. He matched. He recognized transferable skills I brought from teaching, youth leadership, cross-cultural experience, and project-based learning. He paired me with a logistics partner who knew the ropes. He trusted me with something big, gave me space to lead, and offered just enough guidance to make me feel safe.

That experience taught me the power of match—the “M” in my MACRO Leadership model. When we match the right person to the right project, we create the conditions for growth. We stretch, but we don’t overwhelm. We build confidence and capacity. And we protect the integrity of the work while developing the people who make it happen.

I’ve seen what happens when we skip this step—when we assign work based on availability or assumptions. Projects stall. People disengage. Conflict grows. Innovation fizzles. But when we pause to ask what someone’s great at, what energizes them, and what they’re ready to grow into, everything changes.

That’s why I use tools like CliftonStrengths(R) in my leadership and coaching. Not just because they’re validated (though they are), but because they help us move beyond gut instincts and guesswork. They help us see people more clearly—and build better teams.

So here’s a question for you: Is there someone on your team who might be misaligned with the work they’re doing? And what small adjustment might unlock their potential?

Sometimes, one well-matched project can change a person’s whole trajectory. I know—because that’s what happened to me.