This is a difficult prompt today. I’ve been in supervisory positions for several years now. Notice that I said supervisory positions and not leadership roles. Those two things are not necessarily interchangeable, although they could be (and probably should be). I’ve always wanted to be a leader, and tried my best to be one, but I didn’t know what that looked like. I just knew what felt natural, and what felt wrong.
Over the past 2-3 years I’ve been studying and researching all things leadership, and have come to a much clearer understanding of what formal, academic leadership looks like. Turns out, my instincts aren’t half bad. Now, the other half, let’s not talk about that.
But it was that willingness to take it on myself to learn more, and being able to look in a mirror honestly and self-reflect, that helped me start to embrace my role. I have recognized the influence I’m capable of having, and I take that seriously. So all that to say I am still in a supervisory position, and yes, I also think I have found my leadership role at the same time.
Nice try, WordPress, but I’m not falling for your tricks. I’m all about professionalism and $#!+. Especially when it comes to communication. Just ask my colleagues. On second thought, maybe don’t do that…
The prompt today is an interesting one, and I think it’s a really great question. The internet has birthed a forum for nearly everyone on the planet to have a public voice. There are plenty of trolls out there that just like to bring anarchy and watch things burn. Society seems to be falling apart at the seams because it’s this group of people that tend to speak the most and loudest.
Now I’m no beacon of light, but just like that first group, I also have access to the internet. And I also have opinions. Just ask anybody that knows me. Boy, do I have opinions! and I also think I’ve been in the game long enough to bring some value with what I have to share. So that’s why I blog. I like to talk, and I hope I have the experience that will help guide others who are still learning their way. Not that there isn’t plenty for me to still learn, but maybe I can assist somebody that’s a little earlier in their journey. And if I can help make things easier for somebody, that’s a win for everybody. It’s that cumulative effect that I hope to contribute to.
What about you? Why do you blog (or post on social media)?
My agency had a raging debate not too long ago. Okay, maybe it wasn’t all that raging, but it sounds a lot cooler to say it that way. Anyway, the debate centered around mentoring versus coaching. In my agency, we devote a lot of time to coaching our newer employees, but we labeled it as mentoring. We were using those words interchangeably, but the reality is that those two words just are not the same thing. It’s a simple mistake with a really easy fix, but we were mislabeling our practices. In the grand scheme of things, it didn’t really make a difference. We were devoting time working with staff to make sure they were doing things properly, which is a good thing. However, it wasn’t an accurate summary of how we were actually working with people.
Ultimately, we came to realize that coaching is centered around cementing training practices. Repetition, much like a sports coach does in practices. Mentoring, on the other hand, was more about professional development. Contrary to coaching newer staff, we needed to mentor our leadership staff to give them more tools to work with their teams. Looking back, it was such a simple error. A no-brainer, really. Having clearer definitions of the two has made our efforts even more intentional and direct.
I was recently invited to be a mentor for APPA’s Ninth Leadership Institute. I provided my application and identified areas of strength that I could offer to a potential mentee. I was lucky enough to be paired up with a great professional from Arizona. I got to spend some time with him, learning about his goals and how I can assist, and I’m really looking forward to working with him over the course of the next year.
Now that I know the difference between coaching and mentoring, I’m excited to share what I have to offer. So coach like your team depends on it, and mentor like you mean it. I know I plan to.
How do you define mentoring versus coaching? What do your practices look like? How do you invest in your team members, colleagues, and organization? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
I was prompted with this question today. Coincidentally, I’ll be leaving my city in the coming days for a work trip. As I prepare to travel to New York City for an upcoming conference, I can’t avoid thinking about all the cool touristy things I want to do while I’m there.
Ironically, I also recently learned that an upcoming conference will be held in my city in the near future. Now there’s not a lot about Indianapolis that seems appealing to most people. It’s in the heart of “flyover” country. It doesn’t have the attraction that Chicago or Nashville has. If you ask a local what Indy is known for, you’re likely to get a response that includes potholes, road closings, never-ending construction, or the Colts/Pacers.
Here’s the thing though. Indy is the fifteenth biggest city in the country. It has a lot to offer if you look at it through the lens of somebody that doesn’t live here. While it’s easy to overlook what makes your home special, I started thinking about what my city has to offer, and it turns out there’s actually quite a bit. We have the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in the center of the city with an observation deck that is only about 15 feet shorter than theStatue of Liberty. If a casual stroll is your type of thing, there’s the canal that also offers pedal cart and pedal boat rentals. While you’re there, you can check out the Indiana State Museum, the Eiteljorg Museum, or the NCAA Headquarters. Additionally, there are trendy walkable neighborhoods like Broadripple, Mass Ave, and Fountain Square. If you’re a military or history buff, Indy is only second to Washington D.C. in the U.S. in number of monuments. While you’re at it, throw in the Indiana War Memorial Museum for good measure. Like things a little more fast paced? We have the freaking Indianapolis Motor Speedway – home of the greatest spectacle in racing, for crying out loud! If you have kids or are just a kid at heart, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is the best in the country. Seriously. Or if you like things a little quieter, and prefer to lose yourself in a literary world, then it’s worth noting that Indy is the hometown of Kurt Vonnegut. We also have the GORGEOUS Central Library worth scoping out. I won’t even get into the dining options; from fine dining, food halls, or any type of casual restaurant you could ask for. Throw in the entertainment aspect of multiple concert venues, theaters, and sporting options such as the Colts, Pacers, Indians, Fuel, and Indy Eleven. Turns out Indy has quite a bit to offer.
The message here is that home is what you make it. Most places have a lot to offer if you think about it. Indy certainly does. And I’m excited to show it off when this conference comes to town.
If there’s a highlight I missed, or if you’re looking for food recommendations, leave your comments below!
I was faced with this prompt today, and while I’m normally really good at completely ignoring them, this one got me thinking. I’ve actually been thinking about this a lot lately.
How do you plan for your goals? There are so many ways to answer this question. And none of them are wrong. Ultimately, there is one, unquestioned correct answer. And I’ll get to that shortly.
First, I’d like to share a bit more about my thoughts and reaction to this question. Ironically, I have recently started developing a speech/presentation/workshop/whatever-you-want-to-call-it about this very thing. And I’m calling it “The Science of Winging It!” I’m sure I’ll tack on a subtitle at some point, because that just seems to be my M.O. The idea behind this message is how I approach new challenges. While I start with researching and learning about whatever it is I’m faced with, I also tend to dive in head first and figure it out as I go. I try to be somewhat informed, but I’ve also found that there’s no better teacher than direct experience. And we learn most from our mistakes and failures. So don’t be afraid to jump into the deep end and make stuff up along the way. Just be sure to learn from your failures so you don’t repeat them. That’s kind of important.
Second, as I continue to research and experiment, I track my progress and share it with others. It takes a willingness to admit your mistakes and be vulnerable, so be sure you’re ready for that part. Because if you’re not ready for that, it can be really painful. It’s also worth noting here that I’m not overflowing with confidence. Fear is a very real struggle, and I wrestle with imposter syndrome every. Single. Day. But, as I gain more experience, I gain more confidence. And my team sees first-hand where I go wrong, and how I make adjustments.
The last point I use will actually be counter-intuitive to the message so far. Simply “winging it” can’t be the only element of your approach, if you’re hoping to find success at some point. Preparation is a key practice that must be present, even while you’re winging it. Especially while you’re winging it. Like I mentioned, I like to start with research. I also track progress. I use those notes to make sure I don’t repeat the same mistakes. Even when I’m winging it, there’s still a method to my madness and I still have an expected outcome. So yes, while we shouldn’t be afraid of failure, we also need to plan for success.
And back to that one correct answer I mentioned earlier? The one, single, answer that applies to this question for every single one of us? Well, it’s actually pretty simple. How do you plan your goals? Whatever process works for you. Easy as that. Having said that, what does your process look like? Leave your answer in the comments below!
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