By Jamie Strickland
Editor’s note: In 2023, I was privileged to participate in the Leadership Johnston program, hosted by the Johnston County Chambers of Commerce. At the time, the program was facilitated by Melissa Overton of MedicalTraining.Me and The Overton Experience.
That experience gave me an opportunity to learn from Melissa firsthand and introduced me to many of the leadership concepts that have continued to influence how I approach both my professional and personal life. So when I learned she was preparing to release a book on leadership, I wanted to hear more about the ideas behind it and what she hopes readers will take away.
I recently spoke with Melissa about her upcoming book, “Focused & Fearless Leadership: Preventing the Crisis Before It Starts.”
Q. What inspired you to write this book and why now?
- For more than 25 years, I worked in emergency medicine and critical care, where I learned that most crises don’t happen because people don’t care — they happen because small warning signs are missed, communication breaks down, or people are afraid to speak up.
As I began working with leaders and organizations outside of healthcare, I realized those same patterns exist everywhere. Whether you’re leading a business, raising a family, volunteering in your community or working as part of a team, many of the challenges we face can be prevented before they become emergencies. This book was written because I believe people are hungry for practical leadership that helps them navigate everyday life with greater confidence, clarity and courage.
Q. Tell us a little about your background and how your personal and professional experiences shaped the lessons you share in the book.
- I was actually born and raised in JoCo until my teenage years. We moved to Raleigh when I was in high school, so I claim both to be my hometowns. I’m a former critical care nurse, entrepreneur, leadership consultant and educator. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of training thousands of professionals in healthcare, business, education, manufacturing, banking and nonprofit organizations.
Today, much of my work is rooted right here in Johnston County and our surrounding region, where I partner with local businesses, schools, healthcare organizations and community leaders to strengthen leadership, communication and workforce development.
My experiences in emergency medicine taught me how people respond under pressure, while building businesses and leading community initiatives taught me that leadership isn’t about a title — it’s about influence.
As I was writing the book, I realized that I was learning some of these leadership lessons very early in life. As I have grown older and wiser, I have refined them and am continually growing the skill set. Every chapter combines lessons learned from real-life experiences with practical strategies that readers can apply immediately.
Q. What do you hope readers take away after finishing the book?
- More than anything, I hope readers recognize that leadership begins long before a crisis. We all have opportunities every day to build trust, strengthen relationships, communicate more effectively, and positively influence those around us. My prayer is that readers finish the book feeling empowered to become more intentional in how they lead their families, workplaces and communities, regardless of their position or experience.
Q. Who is the book geared toward?
- The book is written for anyone who wants to influence others. So many times, we are promoted because we do our jobs so well. Rarely does anyone stop to think about developing the leadership skillset that we need to inspire and guide others. If you’ve ever worked with people, faced difficult conversations or wanted to make a positive difference, this book is for you.
Q. Was there a particular challenge or experience in your own life that influenced the message of the book?
- When I received my first big promotion, I didn’t realize that I had to change my communication as a leader versus how I could communicate with a peer. It took a few great mentors to show me the way to lead more effectively while not losing the essence of who I was.
Also, working in emergency medicine taught me that moments matter, but building businesses and serving in community leadership taught me something equally important: most organizational crises don’t happen overnight. They’re often the result of small issues that go unaddressed until they become much bigger problems.
Personally, I’ve experienced both success and setbacks, and those moments reinforced that resilience, communication, and self-awareness are often the difference between reacting to problems and preventing them altogether. Leadership and character development occurs over time, but it truly is reflected in the moments of crisis and urgency when we lose our ability to filter. It’s in those moments that we truly show what we are made of, which can strengthen or damage our influence.
Q. Is there one lesson or piece of advice from the book that you believe everyone can benefit from?
- One of the biggest lessons is that leadership isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about paying attention and being smart enough to know people smarter than yourself. The best leaders notice the small things: the conversation that didn’t go well, the teammate who’s unusually quiet, the relationship that needs attention, or the problem that’s beginning to grow. When you are unsure how to navigate the issue, you reach out to the wise resource that can guide you to a workable solution.
Preventing a crisis is almost always easier than recovering from one. As I often say, leadership isn’t defined by the crisis—it’s defined by the moments that prevent it.
Q. Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about the book or your journey as an author?
- This book is deeply personal. While it draws on decades of experience as a nurse, business owner, and leadership consultant it was also inspired by growing up in a small community where neighbors looked out for one another and leadership was demonstrated through service.
Johnston County has been an important part of my own journey, and it’s been a privilege to give back by helping develop emerging leaders, strengthen local organizations and build partnerships that invest in our community’s future. I didn’t write this book to add another leadership title to the shelf — I wrote it because I believe every person has the ability to positively influence someone else’s life. When ordinary people choose to lead with courage, kindness and intention, extraordinary things happen.
To learn more, visit MelissaOverton.com.
