Does this sound familiar? • “This is the way we have always done things around here.” • “Because, we have always done it this way.” As you explore new opportunities for growth and development, look at your department and/or organizational policies and procedures. Ask yourself and your team, “Why are we doing it this way?” If you hear the answers from above, you have a golden opportunity for change and improvement. Forward-thinking leaders get out of their comfort zones. They

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Ask yourself these questions: How often do you allow yourself time to let your imagination and curiosity lead you to exploring and challenging the process? How often do you set aside time to think about challenging opportunities that would test your skill and abilities? According to author James Clear, “The creative process is the act of making new connections between old ideas and recognizing relationships between concepts.” Exemplary leaders are intentional with their creat

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Congratulations on your new position! You’re moving up the organizational chart, gaining new responsibilities, new people to work with, and maybe even a new campus if you accepted a position at a different institution. So much is new! You are excited about a fresh start and all of the possibilities that this new job represents. One thing remains though, you are still the same person you were yesterday. Unless you choose to work on yourself, you will be taking with you any fea

If you are like most higher education leaders, your purpose is to have an impact and make a difference in your organization. Consider the story of the “Two Bricklayers.” One sees her job as just “laying bricks every day,” while the other says to others, “I’m helping to build a cathedral.” Exemplary leaders speak passionately with their teams about the “cathedral” they are building together. Try this at your next team meeting. Begin a conversation about the impact your team ha

Performance management is our topic for this Leadership Minute. Being an effective leader and manager is about leading by example. Some of the most significant tasks include building employee engagement and managing for performance. Performance management is an ongoing process. It is part of every organization’s strategic plan for the purpose of continually developing and motivating employees through expectations that are clear, collaborative, and aligned. An effective perfor