Leadership is complicated.
On any given day, you’re expected to balance people and performance, solve problems, make decisions, and manage your funeral home, all on top of serving the families who count on you.
And in the middle of all that, most funeral home owners don’t have much time to pause and reflect on their leadership.
It’s a lot to carry.
But no one walks into a leadership role having all the right answers, because leadership is a skill that’s developed through trial and error. And the wisdom of those who’ve walked the path before you.
We asked some of our leaders to share a few of the lessons they’ve learned over the course of their careers. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just beginning to think about leadership, their insights offer practical guidance you can apply right away.
Keep reading for tried-and-true leadership advice you can trust and use in your funeral home!
Kris: This one is simple for me: Trust others until they prove they cannot be trusted. Most business leaders do the opposite. They don’t trust others until they prove they can be trusted. This mindset shift has helped me see people more positively, which I strongly believe has created a better culture for our company.
Denise: One lesson that’s shaped how I lead is learning that people matter more than production. When you take care of your people and genuinely care about them, the results tend to take care of themselves.
Todd: I’ve learned that people perform their best when they clearly understand the destination, why we need to get there, and what their role is in helping the company get there.
Beth-Ann: Be transparent and honest with the people you lead. I’ve learned that most people appreciate a leader who knows they don’t always have the answer, as long as the leader is open to working with them to find the solution.
Great leaders start by trusting their team, prioritizing people over production, communicating expectations clearly, and leading with honesty and transparency. Building a positive culture begins with trust and open communication.
Kris: My dad used to tell me, “Always celebrate successes in business, even the small ones.” Business is not like a basketball game. There is no end to the game, so it’s hard to know when to celebrate a win.
Denise: The best leadership advice I’ve ever received is, “Lead yourself well.” There’s a lot that goes into leading others, but it all starts with you. And if you can’t lead yourself well, it becomes really hard to lead anyone else.
Todd: To improve clarity for your team, you have to cast the vision and repeat the vision more often than you think you need to!
Beth-Ann: As a new leader, I was told that unless the decision has to be made in the moment, it is best to sleep on it. If a decision is requested on the spot and I need to consider the options, it’s helpful to say, “I haven’t thought about it that way before. Can I think this through and get back to you?” I really appreciate that verbiage because it takes the pressure off me to make a decision immediately.
Effective leadership starts with self-leadership: celebrating small wins, modeling the behaviors you want to see, and consistently communicating your vision. Taking time to make thoughtful decisions and being willing to admit when you don’t have all the answers fosters respect and trust.
Kris: I have five pieces of advice:
Denise: Expect to fail. Sometimes you might even feel like you’re failing every day. You won’t get everything right, and there will be days when it feels like nothing went right at all. Those moments are important because they’re when you learn, grow, and decide how you’re going to move forward.
Todd: Start by finding a great leadership mentor and listening to their advice. Be humble and let people know you’re going to make mistakes. Admit to others that you don’t know everything. And quickly apologize when you’re wrong.
Beth-Ann: Develop excellent listening and versatility skills. It can be hard and never-ending work, but it pays off.
New leaders should expect to learn from mistakes, seek mentorship, and approach each day with humility and positivity. Strong listening skills, clear communication, and a willingness to grow are essential for long-term leadership success.
Across their different roles and experiences, Kris, Denise, Todd, and Beth-Ann all point to the same core ideas: put people before production, lead yourself well, communicate with clarity and honesty, and don’t be afraid to learn from failure. Wherever you are in your leadership journey and whatever your funeral home looks like, you can use these same ideas to lead with more confidence and care.
Whether you’re just stepping into leadership or have been in it for years, you can start applying these lessons today, one conversation, one decision, and one step at a time.
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