Lessons from the Pool
A unique backstory
As a young teen, Janet Stone Herman was a competitive speed and synchronized swimmer. And she was an entrepreneur who built and directed Pals Swim School in Northern California.
By the time she was 13, Janet’s swim school had grown into a thriving business with hundreds of students and 50 happy employees. Pals was so successful that it eventually funded Janet’s undergraduate and graduate education and afforded her a down payment on a house!
Through the years running Pals, Janet learned how to recruit, train, and motivate a high performing workforce – her staff came back summer after summer to work for the school. They felt respected while also held to the highest performance standards. And they wanted to work at Pals because they believed their work was meaningful and felt proud of the organization. Janet later came to understand that the lessons she learned supporting Pals’ young swim school teachers applied equally well when developing accomplished professionals. Everyone wants to “swim for their coach” who trains and mentors them to be their best.
“You have taught kids to swim, swimmers to teach, and teachers to supervise. I felt pride when I saw a teacher using my teaching methods and phrasing and attitudes. I wonder how you feel. High and mighty I hope!”
A Deep Dive into
Talent Development
Janet’s lessons from the pool have had a far-reaching ripple effect on her life. In her years as Professional Development Director in a billion+ dollar professional services firm, Janet applied the lessons learned at Pals and knows that they work at any scale:
For organizations to be successful, leaders must:
Create a sense of pride in the organization’s mission
Be clear and transparent regarding organizational norms
Build a culture where employees feel respected for who they are and valued for their contributions
Align talent systems: recruiting, training, evaluation, promotions, rewards, and client/customer service
Relentlessly and productively reinforce high expectations
Show commitment to diversity and ensuring everyone feels part of the team
Communicate through actions that leaders live their values
The WaterStone name
WaterStone is the translated name of Janet’s father, a person who understood the importance of inclusion. He taught his children to see and treat every person as an individual.