Insights can come from very random places. As I was reading for a qualitative research class today, the author's were comparing researchers to quilt makers. This made me start thinking about connecting this concept to leaders. Quilt makers take pieces of scraps and put them together to make a beautiful design and a functional piece.
Is that so different from what leaders do? They bring together others with varying skills and experiences to accomplish a common outcome. Putting followers in different roles, based on their interests and abilities, can create different "designs" (outcomes). Sometimes what comes out is a "success" and other times, things don't go quite as planned. But you learn from each experience and can apply those lessons to the next scenario (or quilt). There is no one right way to create a quilt design nor is there one right way to lead. Leadership is a creative outlet, as is quilt making and other outlets such as photography or writing.
The other aspect of quilt making that struck me as being similar to leadership is the amount of work that it takes to create a finished quilt. When working by hand, the quilt takes time and effort to complete. But this handwork also allows for group contribution and the creation of a community of quilters coming together to finish a piece. Collaborative leadership provides for the same opportunities - people coming together to address an issue.
You could also look at quilts as representing the pieces of you as a leader. What do the pieces of your leadership quilt reflect about you?
Piecing it together...
Brenda
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
What Analogy Represents a Good Day?
I was talking with a friend today and we both acknowledged that we had had good, "geeky" kinds of days - learning new things that got us excited about the work we do. As luck would have it, I was also trying to figure out how to find time to write more for me - including more regularly writing on this blog! I mentioned this to my friend and he shared that he uses baseball analogies to reflect how his day was - good days were homeruns or doubles or something like that while bad days were pop flys, etc. That made me start thinking about what analogy I would/could use to describe my days.
I first thought about car racing, NASCAR in particular. I'm a big fan and could certainly see several analogy options. Good days could be like winning a race, having your first win by the Daytona 500; bad days could be a blown engine or a flat tire.
But that didn't feel quite right. I thought about books, about teaching, about TV shows. And then I realized what really reflected me was music. Music has always been an important part of my life and typically reflects my mood. Good days are about upbeat music (think country music, Maroon 5, Brittany Spears, NKOTB/BSB kind of music). Bad days are moody options like jazz and some classical. Days when I need something simple, I listen to classical (and in my car, the 40's station on satellite radio). And if it's been a really bad few days, I don't listen to music at all - that's how I know I'm in a slump and need to get it together.
What analogy would you use to reflect your days or your mood? Be creative with your ideas - and share them!
I first thought about car racing, NASCAR in particular. I'm a big fan and could certainly see several analogy options. Good days could be like winning a race, having your first win by the Daytona 500; bad days could be a blown engine or a flat tire.
But that didn't feel quite right. I thought about books, about teaching, about TV shows. And then I realized what really reflected me was music. Music has always been an important part of my life and typically reflects my mood. Good days are about upbeat music (think country music, Maroon 5, Brittany Spears, NKOTB/BSB kind of music). Bad days are moody options like jazz and some classical. Days when I need something simple, I listen to classical (and in my car, the 40's station on satellite radio). And if it's been a really bad few days, I don't listen to music at all - that's how I know I'm in a slump and need to get it together.
What analogy would you use to reflect your days or your mood? Be creative with your ideas - and share them!
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Humble Pie
Working in student affairs, I should be used to the constantness of students coming and going from my life. I always thought I was good at dealing with that change, but the last couple weeks are an indication that perhaps I'm not as good at it as I thought.
What's bringing this about is an experience of having one of my favorite students make the decision to leave and move to another state. I did not react very positively to this news which bothered me. After all, this student/friend had been one of the most supportive of my decision to go back to school full-time. Why was I having such a hard time accepting this change?
After some time to reflect, I realized it was because it was so unexpected. We all know that the students we work with will leave, typically because they graduate. So when a student makes the decision to transfer, it can come as a surprise and disrupt the typical "flow" of time with our students. The important lesson I learned from this scenario, though, had more to do with me personally.
I projected my surprise and sadness onto the students' decision. I acted in a way that was not productive and supportive. I had to acknowledge that, in this case, I had put my needs ahead of those of the "other." And that had to change! Fortunately for me, this student/friend is a sympathetic soul and will forgive me. I am now 100% in this friend's corner and fully support his decision. How couldn't I when he sounds so excited and happy about this new phase of his life?
As leaders, we have to remember to not put the needs of others ahead of our own. As student affairs professionals, we have to believe we have helped students learn how to think critically and make the best possible decisions. And, when we forget this and are reminded of it by others, we have to be willing to eat a little humble pie.
In humbleness,
Brenda
What's bringing this about is an experience of having one of my favorite students make the decision to leave and move to another state. I did not react very positively to this news which bothered me. After all, this student/friend had been one of the most supportive of my decision to go back to school full-time. Why was I having such a hard time accepting this change?
After some time to reflect, I realized it was because it was so unexpected. We all know that the students we work with will leave, typically because they graduate. So when a student makes the decision to transfer, it can come as a surprise and disrupt the typical "flow" of time with our students. The important lesson I learned from this scenario, though, had more to do with me personally.
I projected my surprise and sadness onto the students' decision. I acted in a way that was not productive and supportive. I had to acknowledge that, in this case, I had put my needs ahead of those of the "other." And that had to change! Fortunately for me, this student/friend is a sympathetic soul and will forgive me. I am now 100% in this friend's corner and fully support his decision. How couldn't I when he sounds so excited and happy about this new phase of his life?
As leaders, we have to remember to not put the needs of others ahead of our own. As student affairs professionals, we have to believe we have helped students learn how to think critically and make the best possible decisions. And, when we forget this and are reminded of it by others, we have to be willing to eat a little humble pie.
In humbleness,
Brenda
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Learning From Students
I am always fascinated by the things I learn from the students I work with. Take the economic lessons I have been getting from Brady. Bringing back memories of my economics classes in college. Amazing the things that do actually stick with you - proving that some of those classes you take are really worthwhile! He has really forced me to educate myself, be open to hearing alternative viewpoints, and be able to defend my positions on the economy and the state of K-12 education.
Then there are the random conversations that you never know where they will lead. This past week, I challenged the Emerging Leaders group to learn about their cultural heritage as part of our discussion about diversity. I mentioned that I was starting to explore my Scottish heritage. One of the students, Scot, came up to me after the session and shared what he had been learning about his family background. We had a follow-up conversation about this topic later in the week, which really has inspired me to want to do more research. It's important to learn where we come from and who shaped who we have become as individuals.
As educators, we need to be willing to be open to the fact that we can learn as much from our students as they do from us.
Continually learning from my students,
Brenda
Then there are the random conversations that you never know where they will lead. This past week, I challenged the Emerging Leaders group to learn about their cultural heritage as part of our discussion about diversity. I mentioned that I was starting to explore my Scottish heritage. One of the students, Scot, came up to me after the session and shared what he had been learning about his family background. We had a follow-up conversation about this topic later in the week, which really has inspired me to want to do more research. It's important to learn where we come from and who shaped who we have become as individuals.
As educators, we need to be willing to be open to the fact that we can learn as much from our students as they do from us.
Continually learning from my students,
Brenda
Monday, August 29, 2011
Follow Your Dreams
Leadership lessons can come from the oddest places. Tonight I read an article through NPR about a run-away cow in Germany. Yvonne, the cow's name, escaped just prior to being shipped to a slaughterhouse. Not only was Yvonne wily enough to "jump bail" but she has also managed to avoid being caught for 100 days! She has avoided helicopters with heat-seeking radar, orders of "shoot to kill", search parties, and a $14,000+ reward for her capture.
Yvonne has a strong urge to be free. What I see in her is a dream to roam free, eat what she wants and LIVE. There is definitely a lesson here. How often do you let your dreams take a back seat to the demands of others? Students or others on campus who seem to have heat-seeking radar - they find you, wherever you are to ask questions, put demands on your time, etc. You get handed a new project that is not a priority for you but is for someone above you. Sometimes you just need to break free and escape to pursue your dreams and goals. Or at the very least to just live and enjoy your life.
Looking for a hole in the fence.
Brenda
Yvonne has a strong urge to be free. What I see in her is a dream to roam free, eat what she wants and LIVE. There is definitely a lesson here. How often do you let your dreams take a back seat to the demands of others? Students or others on campus who seem to have heat-seeking radar - they find you, wherever you are to ask questions, put demands on your time, etc. You get handed a new project that is not a priority for you but is for someone above you. Sometimes you just need to break free and escape to pursue your dreams and goals. Or at the very least to just live and enjoy your life.
Looking for a hole in the fence.
Brenda
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Inconvenient Commitments
Have you ever made a commitment only to realize weeks or months later that you have a conflicting demand on your time? What choice did you make?
Recently, I was reminded of how challenging this decision can be to make - while at the same time being impressed with the learning curve of a young student leader. Our Greek Retreat planning team had been meeting for several months. Two weeks before the facilitator training session, one of the planning team emailed me to say she had to move in to her sorority house the day after the retreat so that Saturday would be her last day at home with family. She felt bad about not being able to facilitate and wanted to know what to do.
In true educator fashion, I asked her to come in and talk without giving her any direct answer. By the time of our next planning meeting, she had already worked out her solution - making Friday her last family day and fulfilling her commitment to the retreat. She came up with a solution that met her need for time with family while still living up to what she said she would do!
Her dilemma reminded me of times I faced similar conflicts. Did I always make the "mature" decision this young leader made? I don't think so, but seeing her struggle and growth put looking for ways to meet both commitments back at the forefront of my thinking. Sometimes it is not possible to make compromises and a decision needs to be made. But I can at least make the effort to look at all possible solutions and still fulfill my commitments.
Brenda
Recently, I was reminded of how challenging this decision can be to make - while at the same time being impressed with the learning curve of a young student leader. Our Greek Retreat planning team had been meeting for several months. Two weeks before the facilitator training session, one of the planning team emailed me to say she had to move in to her sorority house the day after the retreat so that Saturday would be her last day at home with family. She felt bad about not being able to facilitate and wanted to know what to do.
In true educator fashion, I asked her to come in and talk without giving her any direct answer. By the time of our next planning meeting, she had already worked out her solution - making Friday her last family day and fulfilling her commitment to the retreat. She came up with a solution that met her need for time with family while still living up to what she said she would do!
Her dilemma reminded me of times I faced similar conflicts. Did I always make the "mature" decision this young leader made? I don't think so, but seeing her struggle and growth put looking for ways to meet both commitments back at the forefront of my thinking. Sometimes it is not possible to make compromises and a decision needs to be made. But I can at least make the effort to look at all possible solutions and still fulfill my commitments.
Brenda
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Walking in Someone Else's Shoes
We have all heard the saying about walking a mile in another's moccasins. I never appreciated how true it was until recently. I've had to balance the responsibilities of two positions before, but this time around is different. I'm humbled to realize how little I do know about what a Greek advisor does every day.
How many of us complain about the number of emails we get in a given day? In the past week, my email load has definitely increased. And the messages are all over the place - never the same question, information request, etc.
How often do you sit in your office and think, "What does that person really do? It seems like they just sit around all day. I clearly do more than they do."? I have to admit to having those same thoughts. But, again, walking in another position's shoes can really open your eyes. Lesson learned that I can't just assume that someone is just "wasting time" when they could be extremely busy. Lesson also learned that I need to look at myself and what others might be saying about me and how I spend my time.
Want to be humbled and really see what happens in someone else's day? Spend a day, a week, or longer in their shoes.
Walking in humility.
Brenda
How many of us complain about the number of emails we get in a given day? In the past week, my email load has definitely increased. And the messages are all over the place - never the same question, information request, etc.
How often do you sit in your office and think, "What does that person really do? It seems like they just sit around all day. I clearly do more than they do."? I have to admit to having those same thoughts. But, again, walking in another position's shoes can really open your eyes. Lesson learned that I can't just assume that someone is just "wasting time" when they could be extremely busy. Lesson also learned that I need to look at myself and what others might be saying about me and how I spend my time.
Want to be humbled and really see what happens in someone else's day? Spend a day, a week, or longer in their shoes.
Walking in humility.
Brenda
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