It’s been about a month since Ed Cabellon and Ann Maire Klotz’s post, The Unwritten Rules of Student Affairs, hit the interwebs. Cabellon and Klotz do provide some accurate insights as to how to express your professionalism in a field where everyone thinks they have to prove their competence, but I think they miss the mark in a few places. I’ve found that just being professional, instead of trying to prove that you are one is much easier.
In the wake of all the sharing and retweeting, I spent a bit of time reflecting on the authors’ advice (to what I can only assume are new professionals), and offer my own words of wisdom from the positive experiences I’ve had, as well as a few hard knocks:
Be strategic when you say yes
Saying no is not always an option (and neither is choosing what tasks to take on), but when given the opportunity to demonstrate your skill set, use it to your advantage. Sure, redeveloping a training module may not be your favorite thing to do, but do it with excellence and with the collaboration of your colleagues and your boss will probably have a hard time saying no to you the next time you pitch an idea for your passion project. Saying yes and taking ownership of a process can be just as empowering as saying no to something you consider a chore.
Practice Stewardship: Asking for forgiveness before permission doesn’t always work
I’ve worked at three different universities with three different budget models, and three different sets of expectations when it came to the last month of the fiscal year. Before you spend one dollar, talk to your budget manager and find out how your institution expects employees to spend their funds. Sometimes going over your budget can have detrimental impacts on your departmental or division’s bottom line. Buying items just to use up your budget will not always secure your expected funding amount for next fiscal year (there are many reasons why you turn in itemized receipts). Allocating your funds wisely and spending what you need is a great way to demonstrate that you are fiscally responsible.
Networking is more than “making connections”
I’ve exchanged a lot of handshakes and business cards at conferences, meet-ups, etcetera, but I don’t consider any of this networking. Real networking is when you follow-up and follow-through with those connections you make at professional events. Even if it’s just a quick email to say thanks for chatting, this has a longer-lasting impression than a sharp wardrobe choice and a firm handshake. “Networking up and down” with the people around you is just being a good colleague. What’s the best form of networking? Engaging and collaborating with your peers at all levels to enable you to do your job well.
Work-Life balance is vital
Sure, your work-life balance is your responsibility, but it should be a priority for both you and your boss. After having experiences such as being seriously reprimanded for missing a work-related phone call at 10:00pm while in the shower, or being expected to forgo responding to a family crisis because of a staff retreat, I now value a healthy balance between what my job demands of me and what my personhood needs from me. To be the best employee possible, I need to be able to step away from my role to rest and rejuvenate. This does not mean that I need to walk out of my office at 5:00pm everyday or never check emails on weekends, but this does mean that I need to feel free to be able to turn my work phone off when I go to bed. Talking to your boss about work-life balance can be tricky, but framing the conversation within the context of maintaining the best work output as opposed to “I need a mental health day” is a good place to start. (Side note: single professionals need just as much work-life balance a those with partners and families).
Are we still talking about professional dress?
At this point in your career, even if you are starting out, you should already know to dress appropriately for the occasion (e.g. move-in days vs. meetings with the dean), and remember that it includes good personal hygiene. But, if you don’t know how to dress professionally, you’ve got bigger problems than not being able to wear jeans to work on Fridays.
Managing your reputation: See networking
Student affairs is a small field, so what you do at one institution or the impression you make at a conference will follow you. This includes how you treat support staff, your students, and even how leave your current job for your next place of employment. Managing your reputation is easy: do what you say you will do, communicate well and often, respect your peers, and have a good attitude while doing it all.
Yes, it is your job to make your boss look good
I’ve always believed this, and it has always served me well. The key is communication. The times when I have not made my boss look ideal (or keep things off their desk) is when I have not kept them in the loop about things going on in my area. Remember, it’s also your boss’ job to make their boss look good, too.
One last thing: Politics
Grad school may have taught me how to quote Chickering in a staff meeting, but it did not prepare me for the highly politicized world of higher education. If you want to move up in the field, you must learn how to successfully navigate the politics in your area/division/school. Unfortunately, there are no easy tips or tricks to this one other than paying attention to what’s happening around you.
I Wear Red Glasses 