Stacey Dyer had been a longtime fan of the Truly Human Leadership philosophy fostered inside of global industrial solutions provider Barry-Wehmiller. In fact, it was incorporated into the leadership development curriculum at her previous employer.
Still, as her career advanced rapidly, Stacey found herself looking for more mentorship and guidance than her environment at the time could provide. So, when the opportunity for a Barry-Wehmiller Benefits Administrator position opened in 2022, she was eager to apply.
“In my second interview, I come on site, and I meet Bob,” Stacey said.
Bob is Bob Chapman, BW’s late Chairman & CEO who championed the company’s people-centric approach to ensuring that human vibrancy and economic growth exist in harmony. His book, Everybody Matters, chronicles Barry-Wehmiller's transformation into an organization that upholds the values of Truly Human Leadership.
“I shook his hand, and I was starstruck. I thought, ‘I know you, but you don't know me.’ It felt like the stars aligned. I am a true believer in Bob's message that the foundation of a good business and an organization that runs well is the people in it.”
For Stacey, everything fell into place. She accepted the Benefits Administrator position and felt that she had finally found the guidance she had been looking for. She eventually told her leader that she was ready to become a leader herself.
“You already are,” her leader replied.
That moment shifted Stacey’s perspective. She learned that leadership isn’t defined by a title, but rather by how you support and care for others.
Today, her title reflects the role she has long embraced. As Benefits Leader, she serves as an expert on Barry-Wehmiller’s benefit offerings, helping shape strategies to continuously improve the team member experience while also supporting individuals who need help navigating their benefits.
“We have a knack for making sure that communications are delivered to team members,” Stacey said. “Posters are out with details on how to reach the benefits team or who to contact with questions. We have various communication campaigns that we engage in.”
When a team member comes to the benefits team with questions, Stacey wants them to walk away with more than just answers. She wants them to fully understand the resources available to them, including benefits they may not have realized they had.
That commitment to care extends beyond the thousands of team members enrolled in Barry-Wehmiller’s benefits program. Stacey also has four individuals in her direct span of care and works intentionally to ensure they feel heard. She holds regular check-in meetings where they can share what’s working well and what could be improved.
“I have found that those in my span of care feel most valued when you show them that their time and what they have to say is extremely important,” Stacey said. “I tell each of them, this is your hour. You talk about what you want to talk about. This doesn't have to be task related. You can tell me about what's new and exciting; what's causing challenges. But I always make it about them.”
By deeply listening and coaching positively, Stacey encourages her team to take on challenges they may not have initially believed they could accomplish.
“Then they come out the other side and have it done,” Stacey said. “They accomplish things that oftentimes they didn't feel that they were capable of. And I also think that creates a great deal of value in themselves and some confidence as well.”
Stacey recognizes that each person on her team communicates differently, so she adapts her approach to leverage their unique gifts and talents. This environment not only helps them feel like they matter; it leads to increased performance.
“I do believe you have to have the balance of people and performance in harmony,” Stacey said. “I've heard Kyle (Chapman, BW Chairman and CEO) say it many times, it's two at once. It's not one lacks while the other thrives.”
One example of this value is the centralization of benefits and shared services. Through conversations with team members, the team identified opportunities to simplify processes and remove unnecessary handoffs. By harnessing Barry-Wehmiller’s scale through shared capabilities, aligned systems and enterprise collaboration, they created a more seamless experience that allows individuals to connect directly with the people who can help them.
Navigating health-related issues, leave requests and benefits questions can be both emotional and complex. Stacey and her team want to make these experiences as seamless and supportive as possible, especially when they may be in a vulnerable position.
“It’s allowing us to have one conversation around one topic with one team member versus multiple conversations and follow ups and back and forth,” Stacey said. “It's really giving a team member more of a holistic experience when it comes to their benefits and all of the things that touch them.”
When team members spend less time worrying about benefits issues, they can focus more fully on their work. More importantly, they feel supported and valued.
Stacey believed in Bob Chapman’s message long before she joined Barry-Wehmiller. Now, she stewards it every day, ensuring that team members benefit in every sense of the word: from the programs that support them to the care they feel every day.
“100% of my role is making sure our team members feel cared for,” Stacey said.
Hear more from Stacey through the video in the header above.