Permanent link for Mentoring Mondays - June 1, 2020 on June 1, 2020

First and foremost, we hope this message finds you safe and well. Leaning into our new normal will require continued caring, courage, and connection. As shared by our State Chair Kimberly Hurns in her message to all us last week, our network is more important than ever.

Part of our virtual outreach going forward will include starting your week with a dose of inspiration. With that, Welcome to Mentoring Mondays . . . where we will share creative ideas, words of wisdom, professional development opportunities and quips that will make you smile.

Should you have something you’d like us to publish via Mentoring Mondays, please forward to Martha Grier, Professional Development Chair, at [email protected].

#weareallinthistogether

 

Leadership Lessons Hidden in the Coronavirus Crisis

Needless to say, the past few months have challenged our way of thinking, leading, and way of life. As we continue to navigate this time of uncertainty and chaos, we should find ways to turn this “lemon into lemonade” and identify the potential gifts of leading in a time of hardship. I have taken excerpts from an article in Academic Impressions, a higher education publication, and changed its focus to fit the leadership for any organization, whether educational or corporate. Please note these five gifts:

• The Gift of Clarity on What Matters: While much is unclear now, it is apparent that most businesses and organizations have demonstrated that what matters is the safety and well-being of people. The financial perils of having to suspend normal operations, has caused us to identify a new normal – a new mode of maintaining operations remotely. We have learned valuable lessons that may (or may not) lead to new ways of leading and sustaining longevity.

• The Gift of a Renewed Focus on Community: We have a renewed sense of community – reaching out and supporting one another. Of all the lessons we can take away from this experience, this might have the longest-lasting effect on us as individuals. We have seen people come up with creative ways to support our health care professionals and first responders – we have chosen to support each other as opposed to turning inwardly and becoming selfish.

• The Gift of Strategic Surrender: To be clear, no one has given up. However, we have listened to local and global experts and then decided how we should relinquish what we know and cling to as “normal” and strategically surrendered our autonomy in order to act on behalf of the common good.

• The Gift of Listening: We have had to listen and rely upon external input. With intention, we have listened, with compassion to hear the hope, flaws and vulnerability in all proposed options and solutions. There is a gift in learning to listen genuinely, with bravery and purpose.

• The Gift of Imperfection: No matter how we chose to proceed, it may not be perfect. To quote another higher education publication author referred to as “Dean Dad,” “One good often conflicts with another, and choices are inevitably made among flawed options, in imperfect conditions, with limited information.”

These are difficult times and the journey is not over. We wish you courage, strength and grace as we move forward.

Martha J. Grier

Professional Development Committee Chair

 

Source: Academic Impressions, a higher education publication, article by Many Dana Hinton, President of the College of Saint Benedict.

Posted on Permanent link for Mentoring Mondays - June 1, 2020 on June 1, 2020.