Compassionate Regulation Enforcement

6/1/15 Compassionate Regulation Enforcement

As public officials and representatives of the institution, we are frequently asked to communicate whether and how, or not, a student is in compliance with various policies. Certainly our role must be viewed as more holistic than simply conveying a message or providing information. We approach our discussions with compassion and caring. This ethos leads us to celebrate the success a student has had, ask questions about situations that affected that compliance, address behaviors that could be modified for greater success, advise on next steps, and provide encouragement. We provide positive feedback, early interventions and affirmative future planning.

The cycle of Appreciative Advising gives us a process and language to have positive, meaningful, and action oriented discussions. Are you ready to help our students to: Disarm, Discover, Dream, Design, Deliver, Don’t Settle? Let’s have further discussions about how to put these into use so we can always maintain compassion in our communication about regulation and rule requirements with our students. 

'Tis the Season

6/15/15 ‘Tis the Season

Things Happen. They just do. Thanks to the Byrds, we are probably all familiar with Ecclesiastes 3 in the Hebrew Books of Poetry- “To everything there is a season.” The series of events and happenings we experience daily shouldn’t be viewed as our “life.” Truly, I think life is what we do with each of those situations: how we are prepared physically and psychically, how we react, what we believe about the meaning of such, how we interact with others during each situation- especially the dire ones. Most of our situations, though, are not dire but, simply, the next steps on the path through this life we craft with every decision and action.

How appropriate that on our minds right now are two momentous life situations- a birth and a retirement? Both are simultaneously an end and a beginning. Both are cause for celebration and tears. Both can be daunting and full of joy. Both are days that will be remembered for the rest of people’s lives.

We may be less familiar with the last verse of Ecc. 3… “²² So I saw that there is nothing better for people than that they should be happy in their work, for that is what they are here for, and no one can bring them back to life to enjoy what will be in the future, so let them enjoy it now.” Let’s savor and enjoy this moment and make it a great and better life- i.e. ... a great and better workplace.

Staffing Change

4/6/15 Staffing Change 

On a regular basis, we see colleagues retire or move on to different positions. I wonder how many of us see these staff members depart and take a minute, or longer, to evaluate our own current employment situation? Are we satisfied? Are we getting the support we need to get to the next position or onward toward some larger goal? Do we even have a long-term goal? Are we making a difference in our positions? Are we being as effective as we can be?

I know that supervisors and executives are thinking about these things when a vacancy comes up in their areas of responsibility. Are we meeting their expectations? Can they see us transcend into a different position- into that vacant one or one vacated because of a domino effect? As this is also evaluation time, supervisors are thinking a lot about the previous year and their staff members’ work. And, they are asking their supervisees themselves to reflect on their performance and needs.


Hopefully, you feel comfortable going to your supervisor to discuss any of these questions.

The Greatest Opportunity

4/20/15 The Greatest Opportunity

Do long wait times during peak traffic periods mean something detrimental? Well, I guess that’s up to us. Certainly, our attitude about our work will ALWAYS affect our performance and efficacy- and really our attitudes affect our performance more than outside factors like the amount of customers we have backed up at any given time. The famous pastor, Charles Swindoll, said “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”

It can seem like the din of the crush of people in the lobby is impossible to work through, but it isn’t. It’s an opportunity to reach people in ways that may surprise them. One of the reasons that people wait so long is that we provide great service to the people sitting with us no matter who is behind them in line. Our customers will recognize that fact when they finally get to us. It will seem okay to them that they waited because they waited for great service. We will have embraced the opportunity to wow them and make a difference for them.

Ideas!

5/18/15 Ideas!

How do we find the time to innovate when we are so busy because we had implemented new ideas and we are down in staff members which make us so worn out that we just want to exhale for a minute when we have any down time? We feel oppressed by our circumstances. But, innovate we must because the alternative is to keep hemorrhaging students while our population base they come from continually shrinks.

We must keep the ideas flowing. We must keep trying and assessing new ideas. And, we must give ourselves room to fail. Failure is a great teacher if we use it right. Thomas Edison became famous for saying “I have not failed 10,000 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”

Let’s find the ways to help our students achieve their goals and complete college successfully.

Administrative Office Professionals Earth Day 2015 Poem

Ode to Administrative Office Professionals
on Earth Day
4/22/15

You Sow Seeds for a Better World

You plant many seeds of kindness in
a soil enriched by your caring
and skillfully quenched
with a drink of your professionalism.

You’ll likely not see the fruits of your work
today or tomorrow.

But, maybe you’ll notice that our world
is more pleasant because your kindness seed
germinated and matured- propagating more
kindness and blossoming into peace.

And, for peace we owe you more than thanks.
But, appreciation is our best offering
to the sower of a better world.

-Daniel Segura

For the Love of the Work

2/13/12  For the Love of the Work

St. Valentine’s Day... We think about love this time of year. In English, we really have one word with multiple meanings. Love for significant other/s, friends and family easily (Greek-Agape).  But.. Don’t forget school, geographic location. Or, job and work (Greek-Philos)?  Is there a difference between “I love my job”, or “I love my work”? The semantics of language are as important as the time of year in directing when and how we think about things.  Certainly our job is the vehicle by which we accomplish our work.  We know our jobs because we have job descriptions. But our work is what we DO at our jobs and may be less easily defined though just as important to consider and define if we are to accomplish it. My work is the sum of the activities that I do to facilitate student success. Personally, I love (philos) the work that I do. This makes my job worth some of the hassles and pitfalls that go with a typical job. Also, though, I LOVE my co-workers (agape and philos). I don’t want to ever lose sight of the importance of doing the work with great and growing skill and in a loving way.  Consider this quote…”When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.”- John Ruskin. Happy Valentine’s Day!        

ProBowl Dream Team

1/30/12 ProBowl Dream Team  

You are part of a “Dream Team” of staff who embody the best of Delta College’s values and commitment to service. There is almost no nobler cause than helping people find their career/life goals and jobs and thereby- freedom. As the College looks to update or change the mission statement, we can never allow ourselves to suffer from any sort of “mission creep”.  This office works for Student Success by facilitating processes for self-discovery in career planning and research along with the self-actualization that comes with the acquisition of job search skills leading to fulfilling and lucrative employment. You are super stars, “Pro Bowl” players (if you will), who do important work and do it so well.

MLK Day- A Day On

1/16/12 A Day On

Today we celebrate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday by working for an institution that embodies the very values he gave his life for. Many places are closed in commemoration of MLK’s birthday, but Delta College has always chosen to stay open. Really, I can’t think of any better way to live his Dream except by making a difference for people from all walks of life. All are welcome; all races, religions, sexual orientations, criminal record, income level, country of origin, amount of tattoos, weight/stature, academic background/ability, technology access, the number and gauge of piercings, age and so many other modes of diversity. I’ve always loved the acrostic poem of the word D-I-V-E-R-S-I-T-Y: Different Individuals Valuing Each other Regardless of Skin, Intellect, Talents, or Years. I am also inspired by this quote by Dr. King, “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'” Today is a Day On to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy. We are On to continue making a difference in the lives of our students, coworkers and community constituents. Thanks for making a difference every day! You really do!

Accommodations Requested

2/9/15 Accommodations Requested

 

In my mind, I draw a distinction between fairness and equity. It's a difficult distinction because we usually think of them synonymously. I believe that we should all have the opportunity to get to the same playing field so we can be treated fairly. But, I perceive that a fairness doctrine requires treating everyone the same. It is best when we are treated equitably; when our individual needs are considered equally. This keeps everyone on the same playing field. Really, a community college is an epitome of equity. We provide a great service and opportunity that almost anyone can afford with the progressive and equitable help of financial aid. Once people can get to the game and onto the field, they can show their desire to play hard and perform well. They may still need further accommodations as tools to be successful, but those don’t give an advantage. They make the playing field level.

 We have rules in our work and other parts of our lives as well. All of us ask for accommodations or exceptions depending on our special circumstances. And, hopefully, those are granted when we need them because, according to Derrick Bell, “A rule without exceptions is an instrument capable of doing mischief to the innocent and bringing grief -- as well as injustice -- to those who should gain exemptions from the rule's functioning.” We sometimes need that extra consideration. As a leader, I must always work to find a balance between the varied needs of the varied interests and stakeholders. I don’t like to get caught up in a fairness game, because it may not be to everyone’s advantage to treat everyone the same. I must make accommodations where possible to find equity.

Facilitating Fulfillment

1/26/15 Facilitating Fulfillment

 

One of our tasks is to help our students find their way into a career that is right for them. We help them move toward a career that is a good match for their interests and personality; one that meets their personal values and economic needs. Sometimes they seem to be moving toward something for the wrong reasons. Many times, we are helping them to sort out what their values and interests are and to figure out what it is that they want. We, ourselves, feel most accomplished when we do our part to help them to take another step in the right direction or to get back on the right path toward their goals. Consider what Tony Robbins says about finding fulfillment, “I have seen business moguls achieve their ultimate goals but still live in frustration, worry, and fear. What’s preventing these successful people for being happy? The answer is they have focused only on achievement and not fulfillment. Extraordinary accomplishment does not guarantee extraordinary joy, happiness, love, and a sense of meaning. These two skill sets feed off each other, and make me believe that success without fulfillment is failure.” So, as we facilitate our students’ fulfillment, we facilitate our own simultaneously.

Links of quotes relating to finding personal and professional fulfillment:

• http://ecosalon.com/30-quotes-about-personal-fulfillment/
• http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/fulfillment.html
• https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/fulfillment