Regardless of when this blog is posted, I can still say Happy New Year to you! I hope the new year is off to the start that you were hoping for. If it’s not, there is still time to turn things around (fingers crossed). A new year brings new possibilities, new adventures, new challenges, new thoughts, new experiences, new (insert whatever you like here). Just new…every new day is a gift or a present (get it, present day) so use it wisely! You may be a person that sets goals or intentions or maybe you choose a word or mantra for the year or maybe you don’t do any of that. Whatever you do, just be the best version of yourself and challenge others to be that as well, all year long.
Let’s jump into this blog. What do you get when you add 2+0+2+5? Well the short answer is 9 but the long answer is you get some advice for how to capitalize on this new year as a new/mid level or seasoned Res Life & Housing professional.
2
As a seasoned professional, who also serves in a department leadership role, feel free to use the first 2 as a reminder to set at least two primary strategic goals for your department/unit or residence life & housing program in general. These goals could focus on enhancing student engagement, reducing staff turnover, or how your unit can help improve your institution’s retention rates to name just a few things. As you plan for these goals, make sure you align them with the broader institutional or divisional mission/vision/values. Your goals are a roadmap that should easily lead back to the larger work at hand.
Or perhaps from the lens of a newer/mid level professional, feel free to use the 2 to better focus on two-way communication. Foster open lines of communication with residents, your team, your colleagues and other constituents. Truly assess your communication style and see where there are gaps and ways you can fill them. Encourage feedback and create platforms for dialogue to ensure residents, staff, colleagues and all others feel heard and valued.
0
As both a seasoned and/or newer/mid level professional, let’s use the 0 to focus on being a zero stress leader. Don’t think too deeply…the meaning is in the title. Be a leader/supervisor that prioritizes the well-being of your team. A zero stress leader strives to create a zero stress culture that emphasizes mental health, work-life balance, and supportive practices. Focus on your locus of control and remove the barriers that might be stress inducing as best you can. Perhaps you can’t overhaul the entire system but little changes for staff on all levels can make a big difference. Implement strategies for stress reduction, such as flexible work hours for professional staff members (within the confines of institutional policy of course) or wellness programs, which can boost team morale and productivity. Think of fun wellness activities that you can do with your RAs or grad/professional staff members. Do your best to put the fun in “fun”datory! Yay!
Or perhaps you want to use this 0 to stand for zero excuses. As a leader that exemplifies this leadership style or mantra, it means that you embody personal accountability. Instead of making excuses for failures or setbacks, acknowledge them, learn from them, and create plans for improvement. This attitude fosters a culture of responsibility and continuous growth among everyone on your team. No one is perfect, we ALL make mistakes. It’s what we do next that matters the most.
2
Back to another 2. Think about two leadership development programs that you can do with your team this coming year. This could include a focus on mentorship opportunities and professional development workshops to cultivate strong leaders within your team. Professional development can and should start at “home” meaning you don’t always need to attend conferences to get your development fix. Your very talented team (RAs on up) can create programs or conversation starters about leadership and engage all facets of your team in these discussions.
Or make the 2 stand for a goal of reading 2 books, or reading 2 articles or listening to 2 podcasts that are leadership or growth mindset focused to enhance your leadership skills and abilities. Then take the knowledge and share it with others. Sharing is caring…in all aspects except for germs…keep those to yourself.
5
Finally, number 5. As a department leader, perhaps it’s time to dust off those five-year plans and update them accordingly due to upcoming institutional changes that you are aware of or just because they need a refresh. Or maybe you don’t have a five-year plan in place and it’s time to create one! Having a five-year plan allows you to outline key initiatives, measurable outcomes, and benchmarks to assess progress and help guide the future of your department/unit. This long-term planning will help guide your team and adapt to future challenges. Proper planning will never not be a thing.
Or what about opening yourself up to receiving or giving five minutes of feedback…is that scary or nah? I hope nah but if it is, perhaps that’s all the more reason to incorporate this, this year. Feedback as a practice should be consistent and not just once or twice a year during evaluation season. It is just that simple, implement a practice where team members (on all levels) take five minutes during designated meetings to give each other constructive feedback. This promotes a culture of continuous improvement and helps build stronger relationships within the team. This isn’t just for leadership. Your student staff can and should share feedback with you and you should be sharing it with them. Feedback given in the correct manner promotes growth and shows that you care about the person you are giving feedback to. That is also how you should receive it, someone cared enough to want you to be a better leader/manager. Receive it in love.
As I mentioned, these are just suggestions that match up with the numbers for this new year. What would you include in your 2+0+2+5?
What do you plan to focus on personally and professionally?
Spend this year focusing on the growth and development of you and your team, plant seeds now and watch them grow into the future you want to create. Last important point, take care of you and your people this year and always!
