Reading a blog about someone that you may not know could be one of my less thrilling ones for you. Sorry-but as the blogger, I do have some editorial rights! If you live or have ever lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area-then you know Kidd Kraddick. If you watch Dish Nation-you know Kidd. For those of you who don’t know him, Kidd Kraddick hosted Kidd Kraddick in the Morning, a “Kiss FM” radio station in Dallas. It was broadcasted on more than 75 stations nationally and on the TV show, Dish Nation. Kidd passed away suddenly while hosting his charity event for Kids’s Kidds on Sunday, July 28, 2013.
I am writing about Kidd Kraddick, because everyone can learn about employee engagement, leadership and purpose from Kidd.
Passion: Kidd was always helping others-he died doing what he loved-helping terminally sick children. His charity, Kids’ Kids they gave chronically ill and/or physically challenged children (ages 5 to 12) with an unforgettable adventure to Walt Disney World with their family. Kidd’s Kids will live on-it is what he wanted and communicated to his morning team. Kids’ words and action demonstrate his engagement, passion and desire for his work to go beyond himself. He was genuine, authentic, compassionate and thought of his team outside of himself.
Fun: Not every leader is charismatic and we do not believe all leaders have to be in order to be effective. However Kidd was charismatic x 1000,000 He started peoples’ day on the right note. If you were having a bad day-guarantee he could make it better. He had the ability to change the course of your day with his show. He made listeners laugh-and when your day didn’t start out right-he had the talent to make your frustrating or even sad parts of your day disappear.
Teamwork: The show is the Kidd Kraddick show. However, he wasn’t the attention seeker, ego driven maniac one would think when a show is named after you! Kellie, Big Al Mack, Jay Si, Jenna all made the show and Kidd was confidant and talented enough to see their talent, recruit and have them be part of the team. As his colleague DJ, Jenna writes:
The great shot was what he gave me nearly 5 years ago. The shot at an opportunity of a lifetime. He saw a sliver of raw talent, eagerness and a desire to entertain. He knew how to do what I couldn’t figure out at 24 years old. He was a master at tapping into one’s creative soul, and it’s almost as if he knew I was finished and ready to stand on my own.
Performance: All jokes aside, it was obvious that Kidd created a culture of performance. Preparation was key to his and his team’s success. As funny and warm as Kidd was-I wouldn’t want to work for him and not have my work ready to go…at 4am nonetheless! If you worked for Kidd-you gave it your all. If you didn’t-you were on some other radio station.
Succession Planning: Of course it is too early to say what will happen to the show-for us. However, the morning team at Kidd Kraddick has shared with us that Kidd always said, “I want the show to go on after me, Kidd’s Kids must live on way after me.” We are not privy to their intimate, team conversations-but this is what a true leader does. They have the hard conversations of when I am not here, we need to plan how this team/organization live on?
Leaders that want to want to capture their audiences, have employees & clients that go way over “above and beyond” and create a culture of performance, purpose,-you have a lot to learn from Kidd. How else can I conclude this blog with anything other than:
Keep looking up, ’cause that’s where it all is.
Sources:
FOX News, http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/07/28/radio-personality-kidd-kraddick-dies-at-53/
Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/28/kidd-kraddick-dead_n_3665417.html
“The Luckiest”, https://www.facebook.com/notes/jenna-owens/the-luckiest/575879022451177
