Ready. Set. Go. Those three simple words are a cue to be in position, equipped and primed to fly out of the blocks. They are words that prepare everyone for immediate and swift action. Jodi Joseph, Executive Director of Hand2Hand ministries says, “my team is ready to serve each week. That’s how I would describe them, they are always ready.”
Jodi is a leader others desire to follow. She casts a vision that illuminates: Come With Me. One of Jodi’s Kolbe Strengths™ is to Simplify. These leaders start with the end in mind. She drives for the most impact with simple, relatable messaging to keep the main thing the main thing. She identifies the core issues, helps others see the essence of a problem, and exudes a sense of urgency to focus on the key elements of the need Hand2Hand desires to solve.
Hand2Hand Ministries
Hand2Hand started in 2008 with one person seeing a need and serving 19 children. Now in their 19th year Hand2Hand has one goal in mind: Serve 12,500 students over the weekends and on extended school breaks by mobilizing churches, schools, individuals, and businesses to join together, providing hope and opportunity to thrive. That’s a lot of food to receive, then pack, and probably most importantly deliver to each child in a diligent, dignified and delicate way through a backpack.
Hand2Hand Staff Using Kolbe A™ Data
In 2024 we had the privilege to come alongside the Hand2Hand team at their annual retreat to provide the full staff their Kolbe A™ index results for a greater awareness of how each person works, solves problems and makes decisions. This was at a pivotal time when Hand2Hand transitioned staff members from mostly part-time positions to full-time professional roles. Joseph states, “when you learn how everyone works, there you are. Being able to understand working styles, then put that into words, and be able to communicate well to others, that’s huge.”
Introducing Star Power
But Jodi wanted more for the team beyond this first encounter. She got the nudge and the assurance from Jim Meyer, retired SpartanNash CEO, Board member and internal consultant through his relationship with PSG over the years.
This nudge turned into Hand2Hand now utilizing PSG’s full continuum of services for improving organizational effectiveness. We call this Star Power, and it touches all five points of the Star.
Personal Effectiveness
Help people understand how they naturally work best, how they utilize their time, recognize what gives them energy, identify what creates stress, and intentionally use their strengths to accomplish individual and team goals. It includes personal coaching and group coaching for growth and development.
Enhancing Relationships
Build an appreciation for different work approaches and give people practical ways to navigate differences, manage conflict, and capitalize on these varying contributions.
Communication to Connect
Help people recognize that we don’t all send, receive, or process information the same way—and equip them to listen, coach, communicate, and frame assignments in ways that connect with each person’s communication style.
Alignment in Assignments
Help organizations understand what a role requires and how a person will need to work to achieve success. This brings individual strengths into the work itself by putting the right strengths into the right places and improving performance when the fit isn’t quite right through targeted coaching methods, altering job requirements, and changing expectations when necessary.
Discovering the Energy of Synergy
Help teams understand when working together will multiply their results, or when independent work is more effective. By intentionally understanding the dynamics of each team, individuals will reduce time, improve communication, create greater trust, and collaborate to deliver the necessary results.
Hiring is just hard, and when 50% of your total staff is new, that’s extreme. Teams improve the more familiar they become with each other. The 2026 fiscal year was a turning point for Hand2Hand, during which they hired 14 new staff members. While doubling staff in a year to address growth needs is essential, this approach can only be successful when coupled with well-thought-out onboarding processes, training to boost performance, and the right strategies to maximize retention and minimize turnover.
Joseph elaborates, “we needed to grow, develop, communicate well, and retain our best talents. With PSG at our side, we knew we could do just that. We wanted to elevate our mid-managers with training that helped them to lead others. I wanted to grow as an executive leader. I wanted to shoot straight and have others hold me accountable. We needed to do this right, and we are continuing this work with the support of Mari Martin.”
Training Tools Used Daily
Throughout the Hand2Hand workspace you will see bold, and then subtle, reminders of how they are transferring this training into daily practice to improve performance with each other. Kolbe Strengths™ Striving Instincts Summary sheets are posted in open areas and conference rooms where conversations and decisions happen continually. Team members openly display their Talent Tags so that others know how they work and receive their best communication.
Other tools like Communication Tips and Kolbe® Missing Methods are reinforced when team members interact and work needs to get done collaboratively. These are practical ways to keep the onboarding and training that Hand2Hand has invested in alive and vibrant.
Working Together
Seen. Loved. Fed. These are the words that drive their commitment to their mission. It’s based on the verse in Matthew 14, noting the feeding of the 5000 men, plus women and children where Jesus says, “Bring them here to me.”
Numbers matter at Hand2Hand, but the most essential number is one. Is there one more church that will partner with us? Is there one more school we can serve? Is there one more business that is willing to support our efforts? Is there one more person who is willing to pack a backpack?
Is there one more child that we can help?
Empower Your Team to Be Excellent Communicators
What about your organization? If your people are ready to grow, communicate better, strengthen relationships, and work more effectively together, PSG would love to come alongside you. Let’s see what’s possible when you understand how people work best and then use it to improve the entire organization. We say, “When there is a need, a readiness and a champion, you can shoot for STAR performance.”