Leadership Exchange - Summer 2010

to prevent a downfall: Avoid hubris, and lead with humility.

Truly great leaders avoid hubris, and they inspire others by their demeanor of genuine humility. Although humility is sometimes erroneously interpreted as weakness or timidity, the humility of accomplished leaders is the result of their inner strength, effectiveness, and competency. The executive who consults with subordinates and constituents before making a decision is not indecisive, but is effectively exercising appropriate organizational team-building skills.

Administrators who lead with humility have the confidence to admit when they are wrong and eagerly seek input from their staff. They invite feedback; they are consultative and inclusive; and they freely share information and leadership responsibilities with their staff.

Those who lead with humility tend to be effective listeners and to develop collaborative working relationships with internal and external constituents. They are team players who are respectful of everyone and eager to acknowledge the excellent performance of others. They are empowered leaders who trust others, and, in turn, invoke trust in themselves.

Doris Ching, emeritus vice president for student affairs,

University of Hawai’i System

Love Your Work

Loving your work is essential to success in student affairs. All of us encounter difficult situations in our professional ives, but if you genuinely love what you do then you will have the fortitude to get through the difficult times of student tragedies, personal disappointments, and institutional policies.

➤ Loving your work means that you genuinely like students. It does not mean that you always agree with them or that you are always proud of the decisions they may make.

➤ Loving what you do means that you learn to effectively translate what student affairs is and has the potential to be to your academic and administrative colleagues. It means that you get involved in the life of your institution and become a citizen of the college or university where you are employed beyond the scope of your particular position.

➤ Loving what you do means that you listen to folks when they tell you that you are over-extended, and you take the time to reassess your priorities. It means that you have the courage to fail, pick yourself up, and start all over again.