Page 130 - The Voice of Authority

son in leadership: connecting with soldiers as people,
whether on the battlefield or in a parking lot.
It was that same communication principle that caused
him to promise his old army buddy, John Cole, that he’d
stop in to say hello to his daughter while touring her college
campus, High Point University, 20-something years later.
And it was that same communication principle that
spurred Dr. Nido Qubein, president of High Point Uni-
versity, where Hillary Cole attended, to arrange the meet-
ing.
Why would Dr. Qubein go to the trouble? Eighteen
months into his tenure there—with a $100 million
fundraising effort just completed and renovations under
way in every direction—why would he take the time to en-
sure that a 22-year-old former student-turned-employee
have a chat with her father’s old army buddy?
Connection is Dr. Qubein’s natural communication
style as a leader as well.
Here’s how Hillary and her dad first connected with Dr.
Qubein in John Cole’s own words:

After Dr. Qubein took over as president in Hillary’s
junior year, I quickly noticed a marked change. The
buildings, the atmosphere, the campus—it all took on
a new life. Hillary sent me a copy of his video series.
And I began to listen to him on the way to and from
High Point to pick her up. So the next time I was on
campus, I saw him out walking, recognized him from
his photos, and decided to introduce myself. I said,
“Hi, I’m John Cole. I’m known by many titles, but
here I’m just Hillary’s dad.”
Dr. Qubein smiled, shook my hand, and said, “And
around here I’m just known as the president of
Hillary’s school.”

118 The Voice of Authority