Southern Legacy of Life is dedicated to recovering organs, tissue, and eye donations for transplantation while fostering a culture of donation throughout the communities it serves. Like many organ procurement organizations, the team is constantly looking for ways to better support donor families and increase the number of lives saved through transplantation. When research identified the behavioral traits associated with successful donor family authorizations, the organization saw an opportunity to invest more intentionally in the people having these critical conversations.

As part of research conducted by DeGarmo in collaboration with 38 OPOs, Southern Legacy of Life explored how behavioral tendencies influence authorization conversations. The organization's primary goal was to help team members better understand their individual work styles, identify areas that limited their effectiveness, and develop strategies for growth.

The introduction of behavioral assessments and development tools created a meaningful shift in perspective for Family Services Coordinators. Team members gained greater awareness of how their strengths impacted donor family conversations and learned how those same strengths could sometimes create blind spots. Individuals who struggled to communicate an inspiring vision of donation developed new approaches for sharing the impact of donation, while highly empathetic team members learned how to balance compassion with effective advocacy. According to Esther Pipkin, Director of Family Services, the process helped team members reflect on their strengths and growth opportunities while creating a stronger vision for donation conversations.

The impact extended well beyond assessment results. Team members embraced opportunities for ongoing professional development, including monthly webinars and learning experiences that connected them with peers from other OPOs. These resources encouraged staff to focus on specific areas for improvement and provided practical strategies they could apply in their conversations with donor families.

The organization also expanded the use of talent insights into its hiring practices. Assessment results became a valuable resource for identifying candidates who were well suited for the Family Services Coordinator role, helping ensure future team members possessed the strengths needed for success. Assessment tools were also used to support hiring decisions in other operational areas, creating a stronger foundation for long-term growth.

The investment in self-awareness and development produced measurable outcomes. The organization experienced a 7% increase in brain death authorizations during 2024, demonstrating the impact that targeted coaching and development can have on donation outcomes.

Perhaps even more significant were the improvements achieved by individual team members. According to Esther Pipkin, one Family Services Coordinator increased authorization performance by 171%, while another improved by 150% after implementing action plans informed by assessment feedback. These gains reinforced the organization's belief that helping employees understand and develop their strengths can translate directly into more effective donor family conversations.

For Southern Legacy of Life, the value of these improvements is measured in more than percentages. As Esther Pipkin noted, increased authorization rates ultimately mean more lives saved through transplantation. The organization's focus on self-awareness, coaching, and continuous development has strengthened both individual performance and mission impact.

Southern Legacy of Life's experience demonstrates that meaningful organizational growth often begins with personal growth. By helping team members better understand their strengths, investing in ongoing development, and incorporating talent insights into hiring and coaching practices, the organization has created a culture focused on continuous improvement.

As the donation landscape continues to evolve, Southern Legacy of Life remains committed to developing the people at the center of its mission. Through a combination of self-awareness, learning, and intentional talent development, the organization is strengthening its ability to serve donor families, increase authorizations, and ultimately help save more lives through organ donation.