What makes a good leader? What differentiates an employee doing what they need to do vs WANTing to do what they have to? Sure, the love of the job, but having excellent management is a huge plus. I believe it's a necessity to do your job well. Walter was one of the few people I knew and worked with that did just that. The way he communicated and encouraged me made me WANT to make him proud. I felt heard, appreciated, and encouraged. What qualities make a good leader? I asked him this at his good bye lunch and he hit me with a quote that I had heard before, however quotes hit different when there is living proof of them. The quote was "people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." Like I said, I'd heard the quote before but him saying it and living it made it real. I told him that is refreshing to hear because when you think of climbing up the corporate latter, you think of having to be ruthless and emotionless, perhaps greedy and selfish. However he went far by just genuinely caring and being interested in his employees.
Him leaving didn't hit me until I was walking to my car. I learned more about Walter in those short couple of hours than I did in the 1.5 years we worked together; where he was born, some of his family life, his passions, and even some of his near death experiences lol. I regret not getting to know him more but I will use this as a life lesson to stop thinking that I have all the time in the world to get to know people, especially people who have so much to offer the world.
We will miss you Walter! I wish you all the success in the world in your new venture. Thank you for everything you gave us and for making my journey into radio such a wonderful experience. You've cursed and blessed me, because I will forever compare my leadership team to you. And for the record, I did indeed know that you cared.