What are new professionals lacking when they enter careers in higher education?
That
question was asked last month at the NASPA Annual Conference in Orlando
during a session called "What Does It Mean to be a New Professional?"
The answer most often given by speakers at the annual gathering of
student affairs administrators in higher education is something that all
professionals in academia should observe.
It's not a particular
skill they lack, but rather an understanding of something we've all
encountered in our lives as professionals.
"The one misstep they
make is underestimating the politics of the campus," said Danita Brown,
dean of students at Purdue University. "They think everyone is on the
same page. They are eager and passionate then they hit this barrier."
Workplace
politics are certainly not unique to higher education, but it's often
amplified on college campuses with so many constituencies wanting the
attention and resources to serve their students and departments.
"Campus
cultures are very political," Brown added. "You've got to learn to
navigate that political scene, making sure you understand that landmine
of the campus and your professionalism isn't taking a hit."
In
another session at NASPA called "Make the Move: Working with Campus
Politics at Your New Campus," the two presenters recommended reading
Robert Birnbaum's book How Colleges Work for job candidates to
consider before accepting a job on a new campus. Birnbaum describes four
types of campus politics, or Models of Organizational Functioning. They
include:
1. Collegial model, with consensus or shared power;
2. Bureaucratic model, with many systems and processes;
3. Political model, made up of smaller heterogeneous groups with different and often competing goals; and
4. Anarchical model, which is a large number of autonomous players in a fluid environment.
Sally
Lorentson, the director of orientation and family programs and services
at George Mason University, stressed that candidates should know which
model fits them best.
"That's something to look at," Lorentson
said. "Some people really like knowing the system and process they need
to get something to happen. Even if they have to cut through some red
tape, they really like that it's clear-cut and a straight path. Other
people say, 'I can't stand that I can't get a meeting with my vice
president.' I need to have that relationship. I need to be on a
collegial campus where there is that community, where there is that
connection. Knowing your values around that is critical in making that
transition and deciding which kind of campus you're willing to make that
transition to."
Arriving at that determination requires defining
yourself, and sometimes that may take working in different models. Here
are few tips for navigating the process, and it all takes place in
dialogue with some simple questions and logic.
One of the simplest questions to ask during an interview is this: "How does 'X' get done here?" or "How are decisions made here?"
The straightforwardness may catch employers off guard, but it should be
easy to answer and it's an effective question for determining which
model of organizational functioning takes place there.
If you're
like the many professionals who are already employed by a college but
you've underestimated the campus politics, Lorentson recommends having
an honest conversation with your supervisor and ask questions like "What about this?" and challenge the supervisor to think differently.
"I
appreciate that (my staff) ask those critical questions," Lorentson
said. "I think it's my responsibility as a supervisor to give them as
honest of an answer as I possibly can without tipping over the ship. Not
every supervisor is going to be as open to that kind of relationship,
but ... If you're couching as the idea of 'I want to improve as a
professional, I want to be better at contributing to what our office
does or what we as a unit are contributing to the institution or for our
students.' I would hope every supervisor would be open to that."
If you're just starting a new job and find discomfort with campus politics, don't be discouraged by it. Instead, embrace it. Use it as an opportunity to develop new relationships.
"Politics
is pretty much inevitable but politics does not need to be a dirty
word," said Shaunna Payne Gold, the associate director for assessment
programs and student development at the University of Maryland.
"Politics is simply how you manage your resources and your relationships
to make sure you are making a positive contribution."
Gold
recommends getting out of your office and talking with others around
campus. In your first few months in a new job, eat lunch with as many
people as you can. Schedule meetings in other people's offices. Learn the culture. Establish trust.
"I
translate politics into relationships," Gold added. "What are those
relationships you need to build to be successful? I want to know who
holds that power. I want to make sure how I can trust them and they can
trust me and my goal. How can I demonstrate myself as a very competent
and passionate person who works with students? So then, when there is an
opportunity to collaborate or one hand washes the other, then we can
jump at the opportune time."
Achieving balance is also important.
You may love spending a 12-hour day interacting with students, but you
may need to spend a few hours with administrators who can help you
leverage additional resources that your students need.
There is one blueprint for navigating campus politics. Find a way to align your goals with the school's Strategic Plan.
"Do
your research and have some supporting facts," said Brown. "If you're
presenting an idea, use the points. If you can tie it into the Strategic
Plan, that's even better. Don't give up and don't be afraid to have a
courageous voice."
Campus politics are not something professionals need to navigate against - as in a barrier that they hit, as Brown mentioned above - but rather something they navigate with.
- Blogger Comment
- Facebook Comment
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(
Atom
)
0 comments:
Post a Comment